Purposes and Pitfalls for our Work
Last week we talked about our calling as Christians. The big idea was that all believers are primarily called to salvation and discipleship, and that oursecondary callings are our personal response to God’s primary call—the ways in which our own particular skills, talents, and gifts, are put to work providentially to love God and our neighbors.
In this class we want to outline answer that question by giving Purposes that the Bible gives us for working; as well as a few Pitfalls.
Let’s Pray.
What motivates you to work? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Is it the intrinsic motivation of your A-type personality? Is it because you love and enjoy your job? Is it for the money? For your own self-worth? For the prestige, power, fame and influence that you have in your job? What are you in it for?
a) Work Itself, b) Serve Boss/Someone Else, c) Work for $/Lifestyle, d) for the product or e4) Work for the Lord
Perhaps you like your job but if you're honest, you don't really understand what work has to do with being a Christian and a disciple. What are the purposes and motivations for Christians to work?
Purpose 1. We Work as God's Representatives
The first two chapters of Genesis are essential for helping us to understand our work. When God first creates the world, it is formless and empty. But over the next six days, God forms and fills the earth, creatively and purposefully bringing order out of chaos: "The heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array" (Gen. 2:1).
God is a God who works. He is a creative God, a God who makes something out of nothing and brings order out of chaos. By God's word, all that we see – from planets and stars to birds and trees to people and penguins – was brought into existence.
And throughout the Bible, we see God continuing to work. God works in Christ to bring about the salvation of His people and God's work will culminate in the creation of a new Heavens and a new Earth. Our God works. And, His character is on display in the output of His work and also in the way He goes about Work. We learn that he is creative, kind, thoughtful, careful, and generous.
We also see that his work was good, as after each day of Creation, "God saw that it was good" after Day 6 "and God saw that it was very good." (Gen. 1:31).
And God calls us to work giving us an assignment: the task of ruling over and subduing the earth. Genesis 1:28 says: "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground'" (Gen. 1:28).
Our overarching job description is this: to be God’s representatives and His image-bearers as we rule over the earth. And so, as we work, we show the world what God is like. How do we do this?
a) We represent him by exercising authority:
God is ultimately the authority over everything. But he has decided to give us authority, under him. And when we use that authority well and for the benefit of those we serve, we show the world that authority is, at its essence, a good thing. That God's authority is a good thing. So when as a boss or a husband or a parent or an elder or a government official I have an opportunity to say something about who God is by how I wield the authority, the dominion, he has given to me.
b) We represent him by bringing order out of chaos
Bringing order out of chaos is part of what it means to be human-to rule over God's world in the way that he rules. And one way we fulfill this mandate to rule over creation is to create and to order, whether making meals or building houses or writing memos or developing software, or changing diapers or providing a service for someone who needs it, all of these are ways that we can do this. In all of these endeavors, we image and represent God.
Work then, involves imaging God's character, creativity and concern for goodness.
I remember the first time I recognized the satisfaction of brining order out of chaos: I had a lawn care business in high school and after hours of battling weeds and unkempt grass I loved the look and smell of a freshly cut lawn, of newly mulched flower beds, and of a weed-less garden.
Before we move on from this point, it's important to notice that this purpose applies to all of the work we do. After all, God wasn't simply speaking to Adam in regard to the world's economy. He was speaking to Adam as husband, as father, as priest, and as king. In essence God's command is to make the whole world like the Garden of Eden. And what is most special about that garden? It was the place where God dwelt with man. Though this passage has huge implications for our time in the workplace, its ultimate fulfillment is heaven, not this earth. It is, in the words of God to Habakkuk the prophet, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." (2:14)
Purpose 2. We Work as an Expression ofLove and Worship of God
Work is a good gift from God. And work is worship. It is a main way in which we obey this first and greatest commandment.
Worship is about who or what the object of our love and devotion is.
As long as our work is not sinful, whatever it is, it can be worship because it can be a response to the magnificence of who God is. This is true whether you're making widgets in a factory in Pittsburgh or shaping policies on the floor of the House of Representatives. We can remind ourselves of this connection during our workdays by pausing and thinking: "I'm creating and bringing order out of chaos. I'm imaging and reflecting God. What an amazing God to let me share in his work in the world!"
And how do we love God through our work? By working as if we are working for him. Because we are. The Bible makes this clear in Ephesians chapter 6. "Obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. . . . Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does . . . ." We love God when we work "with all our hearts." If you're a mother, "work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." If you're a student, "work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." If you're a wage-earner, "work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord." If you're retired, if you're unemployed, if you're a pastor, if you're a husband--you get it.
If we truly are to "work at it with all ours hearts, as working for the Lord," our work will be dramatically different. We can encapsulate this notion in one word: excellence. Our Lord deserves no less. The Bible calls us to this standard (not perfection which assumes an absolute level of quality, but excellence, a standard that's related to our gifting). Ecclesiastes 9:10 challenges us to excellence like this: "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might . . . ." We love the Lord as we work with excellence, "as working for the Lord."
On a daily basis, are you more excited about the one who calls you to your work or about the work itself? Cultivate a heart that actively worships God in your work.
Purpose 3. We Work as a Way to Love Others
Work is the normal mechanism that God has chosen to provide for our daily needs. Consider God's kindness in creating us to work. It is through our work that God cares for all mankind, not by zapping things into our hands every day, but through the process called "work."
Martin Luther said: 'When we pray the Lord's Prayer we ask God to give us this day our daily bread. And He does give us our daily bread. He does it by means of the farmer who planted and harvested the grain, the baker who made the flour into bread, the person who prepared our meal.' God gives us our daily bread through the work of others to which he calls them. This in part is how we fulfill the second ‘great command’: to ‘Loveyourneighborasyourself.’ (Mark 12:30-31)
Do you see how God gives each person a specific set of talents that are to be used to love our neighbors? Any lawful occupation is worthwhile, and fits in to God's providential care for people and creation. All lawful occupations have dignity before the Lord, and are useful to him.[1]
And we see that specifically, employment is the means that God has chosen by which we provide for ourselves and others. This view of our work should humble us. Instead of using our education, or training, our abilities, or even our successes for ourselves, we must realize that the Lord equipped us for our particular work to please him and to love our neighbors through our work--in fact, He prepared these good works in advance for us. If you work only for yourself, or only for your boss, or only for your clients or employees, you are missing the point of your work. You are called to what you do for God's purposes.
Work, specifically, is a gift and a blessing that we pursue as an act of love!
Purpose 4. We Work for Money – So We Won’t be a Burden
So far all these purposes for work have applied to any work we do, not just our jobs. But here's one that is specific to our jobs. We work for money. And through money we provide for our needs, for the needs of our families, and for the needs of others around us--including the needs of our church.
Paul writes in 2 Thes 3:10: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat" and Solomon says in Proverbs 12:11 "He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty." And Paul writes in Ephesians 4:28: "He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need."
It glorifies God to work as a means to provide for your family and to be a blessing to others. You can take satisfaction, and work with all your heart as for Christ, in a job that provides for your family, allows you to be involved in the church and in the lives of others, but might not be the most personally fulfilling or financially lucrative. It's a good thing "to lead a quiet life."
This motivation for work is surprising countercultural.
I think that in general, those in working-class jobs get this purpose right. They know that they are working in exchange for money in order to provide for their needs. But the more educated you get, often the more distorted things become in this regard. Many work in jobs where they are supposed to be so passionate about the cause that they don't care about money--be it at a non-profit or a job at a business consulting form. That's our culture speaking to us. If work is our main meaning in life, then it is far more important than a lowly motive like money.
But the Bible says that our main meaning as a human being isn't to be found in our jobs. It's to be found in Christ. And so working for the money you earn is actually a key motive for us. To spend that money on ourselves so that we wont' be a burden to others, and to provide generously for others.
How are you doing on this point? Are you overemphasizing the "passion" you have or the "perfect fit" in your work and underemphasizing the money you make? If you are motivated by money, are you using it primarily for yourself or as a tool to bless others? Employment is the mechanism God has chosen to sustain usand to bless others.
Purpose 5. We Work to Adorn the Gospel
When we work in ways that image God's authority, excellence, creativity and love, we silence those who might derogatorily say "all Christians are like X" and with our lives back up the gospel that we confess with our lips. Referring to the work we do to submit to governing authorities, 1 Peter 2:15 says "For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men." And in Titus 2:9-10 Paul writes about first-century slaves who are similar to us as modern employees: "Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive." "Make the teaching about God our Savior attractive." A good goal for your work.
How you work says something about who you serve. Your attitude and ethic in the workplace can be an aroma that adorns the gospel. Are you giving off a sweet or smelly odor in your workplace?
We're pretty good at smelling those in our workplaces who are more interested in themselves than others, who care more about getting ahead than helping us along. We want to be the aroma of Christ and to adorn the gospel in our workplaces.
Purpose 6. We Work for Our Enjoyment
In His kindness, God even allows us to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Moses writes in Deuteronomy 8:18 that it is God "who gives you the ability to produce wealth"; and Paul writes in I Tim 6:17-19, that God "provides us with everything for our enjoyment," and Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 says "it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor.... this is a gift of God." We serve a Generous God and so even as he allows us to enjoy what he has given us, we should also consider how we can be generous to others.
Have you experienced this type of satisfaction in your work? If so, it's a small taste of the satisfaction God experienced in creating the world. Enjoying our work, and enjoying the fruits of our labor brings glory to God because it shows that his plan - his plan that we should work - is in fact good and satisfying. Take time to thank God for the work that he gives you.
Purpose 7. We Work as an Act of Faith
My personal work motto is "Work hard, work smart, trust God." I consider myself a hard worker. And I think I'm a good problem solver and a smart decision-maker. But as I look at any of myaccomplishments, all of them have the unmistakable finger of God on them. My work is simply a few threads in his tapestry. He is to be trusted eternally, practically, and professionally.
As Proverbs 19:21 says: "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."
Work hard and work smart, but above all, trust God. He is the one who promises to take care of all of our needs.
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt. 6:31-34). As Proverbs 21:31 says, "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD."
Paul reminds us that all our work should be an act of worship and of faith: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col. 3:23-24). In other words, Paul is saying that no matter what you do, what matters most is who you work for. As a slave, you're not just serving your earthly master, you're serving the Master of the universe, the Lord Jesus Christ. So serve him well. Paul is saying that what matters most is who you work for, not what you do. Who You Work for is More Important than What you Do: this is what gives your work meaning and purpose.
The Fall and its Effects
But these 7 purposes for our work—- don’t always seem true of our daily experiences. Rather than feeling the satisfaction of bringing order out of chaos, we feel the frustration of a chaotic workplace. And rather than seeing our work as worship, we see it as an arena that is immensely different from the worship that we do on Sundays. Why don’t our motivations resemble the picture in Genesis 1 and 2?
The short answer is Genesis 3. In essence, Adam and Eve were choosing to work for themselves, to prioritize what they thought was best over what God thought was best. Rather than representing God by cultivating the world as he would have them, they sought their own agenda and used the world for their purposes.