Work Matters to Jesus

Believe it or not, studies prove that Sundays are the day when people report feeling more depressed than Monday! After the activities of Saturday, an unstructured Sunday can leave a person restless, wondering why they feel so lethargic. Then, there’s Monday! How do you feel about it? Depressed about getting back to work? Eager to reconnect with friends? Dreading that first long meeting? Thankful that you have a job? Most of us feel mixed emotions about work. We’re glad to be employed, but wish we found more fulfillment in what we do.

Christian, the Bible says that our work matters to God!   

  

How we work is of concern to Him. That’s not just true about those of us who are ‘church workers.’ God cares about how you drive a truck, lead a project, string wire, manage an office, or care for your family. "Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work." (Colossians 3:22-25, The Message)That word was not written to people pursuing their passion in the arts or those receiving high wages in fair working conditions! The Holy Spirit spoke it originally to household servants who had come to Christ. Yes, it was written to people who had no rights, who worked long hours, who did hard, menial, manual labor.

Think about what it would mean to work for Jesus. He would not overlook your best efforts or be fooled by attempts to appear more diligent than you actually are. He would not play politics, favoring someone who does less but who has a pretty face! He would be fair in both compensation and advancement, basing them on real effort, not seniority or connections. He would protect you from the one who tries to marginalize your value to the team and He would see the petty digs you plant about your rivals. The truth is - as a Christian, you are working for Jesus! "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." (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)

There are two misconceptions that poison our ability to work well and for Christ. First, some believe that 'work' is part of sin’s curse. A misunderstanding of the opening chapters of Genesis can lead us to believe that work only entered the human experience after Adam’s Fall. Eden’s paradise was work-free, some think. Fact is, God sent Adam to work from the moment of his creation. “Tend the Garden, name the animals, manage the earth,” He said. The entry of sin into the world did not bring the idea of work, it caused work to become toil! Where once work had produced results, now it was frustrated by weeds, sweat, and difficulty! Our work will include frustration, but work itself is not a curse, it is a means of being productive. Second, some divide work into that which is sacred (part of God’s realm) and that which is secular (part of this present world only). This artificial divide causes them to think that what they do to ‘earn a living,’ is less important. For the Christian, every part of life is sacred. Our lives, in totality, belong to God!

Change up Monday mornings. Take Jesus to work with you. He will make a difference - in you, in your workplace. No matter where we work, no matter what we do, our attitude and effort reflects on Christ Jesus, our Lord. So, let’s choose to honor Him by doing well!