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Tag: work

  • The Unwilling Worker.

    The Unwilling Worker.

    Series: Born to Work (part 5). By Rosie Moore.

    “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” (1 Thess 4:11-12).

    There is much talk about ambition, position, and power dynamics in the workplace. This seems to be the direct antithesis of Paul’s instruction to the Thessalonian believers to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.” The Bible urges Christians to be ambitious, but to direct our ambition towards living a quiet life before God, not a powerful life before man.

    The ‘quiet life’ of the Christian is unpretentious and incompatible with the status-obsessed life of the world. That’s because the world’s religion worships the god of self, whereas the Christian is called to serve Christ and our neighbour. This polarity is especially visible in the context of our work and vocation.

    The ‘quiet life’ at work.

    In the first century, Paul fleshed out his instruction to “work with your hands” in the context of the Thessalonian church, where some of the believers had become idle busybodies, relying on other Christians for handouts. They were using their status as believers as an excuse for laziness and meddling in the affairs of others. Instead of being busy with their own work, they were busy disrupting the good work of the church. Paul re-iterates the spiritual law that God has written into his world: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he will not eat.”

    In God’s eyes, a Christian cannot effectively share the gospel with outsiders if we aren’t a credible witness in our own workplace. That goes for ministry leaders as well as believers in secular work. After all, God gave us a carpenter-King, fishermen-apostles and tent-making missionaries to lead the way. There is no place for an idle Christian.

    Reasons for idleness.

    There were two possible reasons for idleness among the Thessalonians: Firstly, the surrounding Greek culture looked down on manual labour, and this tradition of man had seeped into the church.

    Secondly, some of the Christians had stopped working because they were waiting for Christ’s return. They spiritualised their laziness by saying that since they were getting ready for the new kingdom, they had more important things to do than attend to lowly work every day. They were dualistic and proud in their understanding of how the gospel impacts daily life.

    But Paul warns these believers in no uncertain terms to get back to work and earn the food they eat! Being ready for Jesus’s return means using our time and talents responsibly, faithfully supporting our own households (1 Tim 5:8). Being ready for Christ’s return means honouring work as God’s appointed means for the good of society and the church.

    We eat because we work.

    In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul fleshes out the spiritual axiom that permeates all of Scripture: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat”. In other words, we eat because we work:

    ‘In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.

    11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

    14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer” (2 Thess 3:6-15).

    Again, in 2 Thessalonians 5:14, Paul urges the believers in Thessalonica, “Warn those who are idle.”

    Paul draws a clear line between true faith and faithfulness in work. He describes idleness as a disorderly, undisciplined lifestyle which disturbs the harmony of the Church and goes against the essential doctrines handed down by the apostles (2 Thess 3:6-7).

    Unwilling to work…

    Who is Paul warning?

    Notice that Paul is not addressing a person who is genuinely unable to work due to disability or lack of employment opportunities. Nor is Paul warning a person who has lost his job and is industriously looking for work. He is talking about the professing Christian who could work, but either actively or passively refuses to work or avoids work.

    Paul’s rebuke could apply to someone who is too proud to apply for a position that is below his qualifications, or an unmotivated employee using work hours to pursue her own interests, or one who is simply content to live off the hard work of others. Or a worker who is constantly preaching to others while neglecting their own responsibilities.

    Diligent workers.

    Paul also has a word of encouragement for the brothers and sisters who are working hard in Thessalonica: “As for you brothers and sisters, don’t grow weary of doing good.” (2 Thess 3:13).

    There will always be members of the church who are profoundly needy—widows, orphans, those who are sick, disabled or grieving. People who are unwilling to work should not cause Christians to lose their compassion for those who genuinely need our support. Paul is urging Christians not to become cynical or give up doing good for those who truly need our love and charity.

    Profile of a sluggard.

    The wisdom literature is not complimentary about a person who habitually avoids work. This person is called a sluggard! A sluggard fails to finish tasks (Prov 12:27) and doesn’t take care of what he owns (Prov 24:30-31; 18:9). She is excessively fond of sleep and leisure (Pro 6:9; 20:13), working for immediate pleasure instead of long term reward (Prov 20:4; 21:25; Ecc 4:5). A sluggard is always restless and unsatisfied in their work (Prov 13:4).

    It is quite possible for a sluggard to be a ‘busy’ person who is socially active, or somebody caught up in noble causes. The problem with an idle person is that he is a busybody– never busy with his own duties, but very busy telling others how to live their lives.

    In fact, Paul views idleness as such a serious sin in the church that he calls the believers to distance themselves from those who refuse to work (2 Thess 3:13-14). The picture is of someone who is disruptive and unruly in the body of Christ, like a soldier who is breaking ranks, a self-willed person who refuses to submit to God’s word. But the goal of this shunning is to lead the believer to repent and be restored to fellowship. The idle person must be treated as a beloved brother or sister in Christ, not as an enemy of the church, in the hope that he will confess and forsake his sin.

    Paul’s profile as a worker.

    Paul’s own example of hard work implies that leaders in the church are to be recognised, not by their titles or power, but by their consistent service and labour among God’s people under their care. Imagine Paul and Silas working “night and day, labouring and toiling so that [they] would not be a burden to any of you” (2 Thess 3:7-10).

    Paul’s own example as a Christian minister backs up his teaching on work. As a highly gifted preacher and intellectual, Paul willingly worked as a tentmaker alongside artisans, Aquila and Priscilla, in order to provide for himself in Corinth and to support his second missionary journey (Acts 18:3). Paul was more interested in his responsibilities than his rights as a minister. Tentmaking was a tough, precise job that required long days of physical labour, using thick leather, scissors, and needles. “We toil, working with our hands”, Paul wrote in 1 Cor 4:12.

    On one hand, Paul believed that a Christian worker is worthy of his wages and that he had a right to financial support: “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain” (1 Cor 9:9). But at the same time, Paul wanted to set an example by working hard to buy what he needed, so as not to burden believers who cared for him in the struggling churches.  If Paul, the most prolific author of the New Testament and learned Apostle, did not believe that making tents was below his rank, surely he offers us a godly model?

    Conversely, in his first letter to the Thessalonian church, Paul writes:

    “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess 5:12-13).

    Christian ministers who labour to preach the whole truth of the Word and pastor their flock in love week after week, deserve to be highly honoured and loved by God’s people (1 Thess 5:12). Christian workers should be supported and commended by the people they serve in the local church.

    At the same time, hard work is an essential aspect of ministry, thus a lazy pastor or idle church worker is a contradiction in terms.

    Work is a privilege.

    In summary, work is a privilege by which we use the talents and opportunities that God has given us to display the very image of God that is in us and to demonstrate our love for Jesus. It is a worthwhile stewardship, both inside and outside the church. Because Christ is faithful, He will give us the grace, strength, and perseverance we need to do our work faithfully and wisely until our Master returns (2 Thess 3:3-5).

    And through our human efforts at work, we are extending common grace to unbelievers and a sweet blessing to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Christians ought to be the most motivated workers in the world because we’re serving Christ and preparing for his blessed return. Does the Lord himself not give us the best motivation and incentive for whatever work He has placed before us?

    “Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them…  42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions….  48 Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more..” (Luke 12:41-48)


     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Top 12 Temptations at Work

    Top 12 Temptations at Work

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    Series: Born to Work (Part 4), By Rosie Moore.

    “There are things for humans to do all day long without His minding in the least – sleeping, washing, eating, drinking, making love, playing, praying, working. Everything has to be twisted before it’s any use to us” (CS Lewis).

    Screwtape, a cunning devil, advises his nephew Wormwood on how to twist and distort good gifts like work so that instead of being a blessing, it becomes a curse. Our everyday work presents ample opportunities for good, but it also brings temptations for sin and disorder.

    Two biblical concepts—Authority and Accountability—shape relationships in the workplace and provide guidance for navigating its challenges.

    Authority.

    As Creator and ruler of His world, God has designed a balance of human authority in various spheres—family, church, state, and workplace—each with its own jurisdiction. When we fulfil our roles within this framework, a good balance is achieved. But whenever we abandon God’s framework, we reap disorder.

    In the workplace, employers are to exercise good leadership and impartiality. They are responsible for providing protection and direction to employees, opportunities for growth, disciplining wrongdoers, and praising those who do well. They are called to treat their employees justly and fairly, knowing that they also have a Master in heaven (Col 4:1; Eph 6:9).

    On the other hand, employees are called to “be subject to [their] masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust” (1 Peter 2:18). They are to obey and serve their employers diligently “and do it, not only when their eye is on [them] and to curry favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (Colossians 3:22-23). Workers are to be “well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour” (Titus 2:9-10).

    Although this model is not in vogue today, it is clearly God’s established order throughout Scripture and bears powerful witness to the gospel.

    Accountability.

    The Bible teaches that all human authorities are accountable to God in how they exercise their authority. Likewise, workers are accountable to God for their responses to authority. Authority and accountability are the two sturdy legs on which healthy workplace relationships stand.

    The gospel’s message of equal obligation is a radical one that transforms the employment relationship for disciples of Christ. We see this in the earliest gospel pronouncements of the New Testament:

    In Luke 3, John the Baptist provides real-life examples from the workplace to illustrate how to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). First, he urges believers who have abundant possessions to share with those who have nothing (Luke 3:10). Then, John instructs Christian tax collectors not to exploit their power for personal gain. He tells soldiers, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay” (Luke 3:14). Here, the evidence of true faith is seen in the context of work.

    Similarly, Paul writes to believing slaves to improve their situation if it will honour God: “If you can gain your freedom, do so”. But just before, he says, “Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you” (1 Cor 7:21). The fruit of repentance is visible in both our diligence and contentment at work, and we will all answer to Christ, regardless of our role or position.

    Often, it is in the pressure cooker of the workplace that our Christian character is tenderised, tested and put on exhibition for the world to see. Charles Spurgeon aptly captures this truth: “Grace makes us the servants of God while still the servants of men… It sanctifies the common duties of life by showing us how to perform them in the light of heaven.”

    Paul urges both bondservants and masters to submit themselves to Christ as Lord. Knowing that we are servants of Christ is the greatest safeguard against temptation at work.

    Servants of Christ.

    “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him” (Ephesians 6:5-9).

    While God does not show partiality based on our rank or power, there are specific temptations that attach to our roles as employers and employees. Here are my top twelve:

    Temptations at work.

    1. Abuse of power: In Colossians 4:1, Paul instructs employers, “Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”

    Those in positions of authority will always be tempted to treat workers as a means to an end, rather than as human beings made in the image of God. A Christian employer should exercise self-control, gentleness and consistency, mindful of the temptation to prioritize appearances over the Lord’s impartial eye (Ephesians 6:9). Favouritism is a common temptation for employers, which is why Paul emphasizes fairness.

    2. Bad attitude: An employee should work with a willing, sincere heart, not just when the boss is around (Colossians 3:22). A complaining, entitled, or sullen spirit violates God’s instruction in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

    3. Workaholism: “Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6).

    Though work is a good thing, any fixation other than God becomes an idol. Jesus said that if money is our master, then God is not (Matthew 6:24).

    Workaholism often arises out of anxiety, fear, perfectionism and need for approval, but it is a sin which we need to confess and forsake before it takes hold. God knows our needs and has promised to provide (Matthew 6:25-34). One sure way to resist the idol of work is to observe a Sabbath every week, as it reminds us of our dependence on God’s provision. When we take a day of rest, we remember that Christ is the Lord and we are not (Ex 20:10.)

    4. Slackness: “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys” (Proverbs 18:9).

    Slackness is a subtle temptation. Solomon points out that negligence from a worker can destroy projects and relationships. A careless and apathetic attitude is hard to pin down, but it is contagious in an organisation and as dangerous as a deliberate act of sabotage. That’s why the Bible points us to the ways of the ant in our work (Prov 6:6-8). It is wise to build conscientious habits into our day to safeguard ourselves against slackness.

    5. Envy and selfish ambition: “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16.) “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.” (Ex 20:17).

    Envy and selfish ambition lead to discontent and rivalry at work. In a chapter titled “Trusting God for who you are”, Jerry Bridges exposes the sinful roots of envy in our vocations. His last sentence is profound—

    “Just as we must trust God for who we are, we must also trust Him for what we are—whether it be an engineer or missionary, a homemaker or a nurse. If there is one area of life where the saying “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” applies, surely it is the area of vocational calling and station in life. Someone has estimated that as many as eighty percent of our work force are dissatisfied with the jobs they are in. For many of us that may be due to a reluctance to be what God planned for us to be.”

    6. Greed: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” (1 Tim 6:9) “Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

    God does not bless us in our work so that we can hoard our wealth or covet our neighbour’s greater wealth. Greed is a temptation that we all face as workers, rich and poor alike.

    7. Withholding wages: “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty” (James 5:4)

    Failure to pay a worker or supplier of services is an injustice against the Lord, “For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain” and “the labourer deserves his wages”(1 Tim 5:18).

    8. Corruption: “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel” (Prov 20:17) “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.” (Prov 11:1) “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them” (Prov 11:3). “Yet Samuel’s sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice” (1 Sam 8:3)

    Samuel’s sons were appointed to be judges over Israel, but turned out to be corrupt, much like Eli’s sons (1 Sam 2:12). Today, it seems that corruption, collusion and ill-gotten gain are as prevalent as in Israel at the time of the Judges. A Christian upbringing is no guarantee of integrity, as Eli and Samuel discovered.

    Because workers often stand at the coalface of corruption, parents and churches have an awesome responsibility to prepare our children to fear God and resist moral compromise at work. We must talk about these things with our children, preparing them to recognise and expose corruption when they encounter it.

    9. Exploitation: “But you have eyes and ears only for your dishonest gain for shedding innocent blood and for practicing oppression and violence” (Jer 22:17).

    God’s Old Testament laws gave the poor and vulnerable opportunities to improve their situation. They also revealed God’s anger towards those who take advantage of the needy (Deut 24:14-15; Lev 19:13). And so, we are not left guessing what God thinks of exploitation, bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace. These practices are vile and offensive to Him.

    10. Brooding: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Ps 16:8).

    Although our thought life is hidden from our work colleagues, it is a fertile soil for sin. Because of work’s thorns and thistles, we are often tempted to despair, to feel resentful or angry, to regret our failures and to judge the motives of others. When treated unfairly, we can quickly become a prisoner of our feelings. But Christians are called to capture every thought to the obedience of Christ, choosing to trust God rather than be ruled by our feelings. In 1 Peter 2:23,  workers are urged to let go of injustice and entrust ourselves “to Him who judges justly and bore our sins on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”

    11. Compromise: “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin” (James 4:17).

    As pressure mounts from lobby groups and policies in the name of ‘Reproductive Healthcare;’ ‘Environmental justice,’ and ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’, Christians will be tempted to compromise their faith in the workplace. Pride Month draws a sharp line in the sand for Christians, calling us not just to tolerate sin, but to celebrate and align ourselves with it.

    The proposed Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill criminalises expressions deemed hate speech with a jail term of up to 8 years for offenders. But with no proper definition of “hate” and a subjective definition of “harm”, Christians in the workplace may face costly choices when pressured to violate God’s Word and their own conscience. Being Christ’s faithful servant at work may soon lead to more than just mockery, rejection and ridicule. Resisting compromise may result in dismissal, prosecution, fines and imprisonment.

    12. Idleness: “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us… For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” (2 Thess 3:6, 10).

    Idleness is one of the more subtle temptations that we face as Christian workers. Paul singles out this sin in both his letters to the Thessalonian believers, so it was evidently a cultural problem that had been normalised in the church. Join us next week to unpack the maxim: “If anyone does not work, he will not eat.”

    Prayer.

    Lord, in whatever we do, we trust that you have equipped us to fulfil your purpose. You determine the course of our lives, so help us not to squander our stewardship at work. Help us to take every opportunity to improve our situation in a way that will honour you, but at the same time to embrace whatever vocation we are in and to accept the situations we cannot change. Give us daily strength to work with all our hearts, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since we know that we will receive an inheritance from you as a reward. Give us eyes to see that it is the Lord Christ we are serving, not men. All glory be to Christ our King. Amen.

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  • Our work and God’s work.

    Our work and God’s work.

    Series: Born to Work, By Rosie Moore. (part 3)

    “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied” (Prov 13:4)

    The Bible’s view of work as part of our worship and service to the Lord has proven to be wise advice.

    Research conducted by psychologist Angela Duckworth shows that we need meaningful work to thrive as human beings. If we work only to get rich, we find it unsatisfying, but if we throw ourselves wholeheartedly into our work and connect with people while doing it, we experience joy.

    Duckworth argues that it is ‘grit’, not talent that enables a worker to achieve his/her potential. She defines grit as the combined force of passion and perseverance for long term goals. Passion is a focused approach to something you care deeply about, while perseverance is the resilience and desire to work hard over the long haul. (Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth.)

    It’s no surprise that the Bible has been giving this wise counsel for thousands of years, because God is the inventor and model of work.

    Work is good for us.

    There are many benefits of hard work listed in the Bible. Here are a few to meditate on:

    • Work helps us escape the poverty and emptiness that idleness brings. “The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.” (Prov 21:25). “Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.” (Prov 20:4)
    • Hard work leads to healthy tiredness and restful sleep (Ecc 5:12)
    • Work provides a deserved income to meet our basic needs and legitimate pleasures (1 Thess 4:12; 2 Thess 3:10; Ecc 5:18-20). “The labourer deserves his wages” (1 Tim 5:8).
    • Work is God’s means to provide for our relatives, “and especially for our own household” (1 Tim 5:8).
    • Work increases the wellbeing of society, where each person enjoys the fruits of their own labours (Prov 14:23). “And each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid” (Micah 4:4). “You will eat the fruit of your labour; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” (Ps 128:2)
    • Work provides an income to give to God. (Prov 3:9-10)
    • Work provides an income to share with those who genuinely don’t have the opportunity or ability to work (Eph 4:28; 1 Thess 4:12).
    • Work provides a God-given sense of joyful accomplishment and fruitfulness (Ecc 9:7; 5:18).

    The idea of working to the glory of God and for the eye of our Lord Jesus was the foundation of the Protestant work ethic, which brought prosperity to the Western world. When we use our talents and connect with others to provide good service and products, we are contributing to human flourishing.

    That is why the 36% unemployment rate in South Africa is a terrible blight on our nation. Individuals and families cannot flourish in a society in which so many of its able people are unemployed and depend on the state for support.

    But even if a person is out of work, they still have a job to do. It is to spend every day looking for a job and being willing to do unpaid work until they find a paid job. If a jobless person does that, God is satisfied with their labours.

    Work is for God’s glory.

    Paul writes that we are called to glorify God in everything, including our work (1Cor 10:31). Thus, work is never futile labour, but a calling to serve Christ as a faithful servant wherever we find ourselves (Col 3:23; Matt 25:23). To appreciate this calling, it’s helpful to ponder on God Himself as the prototype of a worker:

    For all eternity, God has worked with unfathomable wisdom, skill, and creativity to create the universe, and sustain it. From the beginning, God blessed Adam and Eve and told them to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it, to rule over the fish, birds, every living thing that moves on the earth as His representatives.

    He gave us every tree that yields seed and fruit as food for us, every beast of the earth, every bird of the sky, every moving thing, and every green plant for food. Humanity was given the responsibility to care for God’s creation, to cultivate and tend to it for His glory and our good.

    It is this work which sets us apart from the animal kingdom (Gen 2:15). Animals don’t paint pictures or design beautiful buildings. They don’t grow gardens, make clothes, or cultivate farms. They don’t compose symphonies, produce movies, or cook three course meals. They don’t heal, invent, or start businesses. They don’t collaborate to build a city. That’s because animals are not made in God’s image and have not been given dominion over the earth as humans have (Gen 1:26).

    Likewise, Scripture describes Jesus as a worker. In John 9:4, Christ said, “I must do the works of My Father…My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34). “My Father is working still and I am working” (John 5:17).

    Having accomplished his work of creation and his work of redemption on the cross, Christ works to hold all creation together and lead his church (Col 1:16-17). Even today, He works to create, redeem, judge, and rule as God’s appointed King (Ps 2:4-6; 9). His work at the end of history will be to judge the living and the dead, to restore the new heavens and new earth, to rule with perfect justice and righteousness (Rev 6; Rev 21:2; Isa 33:5). God has a vast job description!

    The Holy Spirit is a worker too. He was brooding over the waters at Creation and continues to work powerfully to sustain the universe. Over a period of 1500 years, the Spirit inspired forty men to write the Bible perfectly and accurately. Today, whenever a sinful heart is regenerated and transformed, the Spirit is engaged in the work of redemption and renewal. He still works to enlighten, convict, save, fill, assure, comfort, sanctify and guide believers in wisdom all over the world.

    To use Angela Duckworth’s definition, God’s work is full of grit. It is persevering, eternal work with the long-term goal of complete redemption. That’s why human beings, made in God’s image, are commanded to work for six days, and on the seventh day, to rest (Ex 20:9-10).

    Even after the Fall, our earthly work is designed to redeem the cursed universe in some measure until the final Sabbath rest of the new creation:

    Work of redemption.

    We reflect God’s redemptive and reconciling work whenever we help people to repent and trust in Jesus, when we are peacemakers, and when we create order out of chaos or cultivate a farm out of virgin veld. We partake in His redemptive work when we do good things for the city we are living in, “because if there is peace in that city, you will have peace also” (Jer 29:7-11).

    Work of creation.

    We represent God’s creative work when we use our gifts to beautify the world, to express what is true, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy through art, music, literature and architecture. Scripture gives many examples of gifted individuals who used their skills for God’s glory (2 Chron 2:7).

    In Exodus 35:10, Moses says, “Let every skillful craftsman among you come and make all that the Lord has commanded”. Again, in 28:3, God says, “You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood”.

    The Lord filled Bezalel, son or Uri, “with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and carving wood, to work in every craft…” (Ex 31:1-18). And Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was appointed to direct the music, “for he understood it” (1 Chron 15:22).

    Clearly, we are not all skilled to do the same work, but each of us has a gift which we must use and cultivate for God’s glory and the good of humanity.

    Work of providence.

    “Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honoured” (Prov 27:18).

    We mimic the providential work of God when we tend to animals and plants; conserve nature for humanity to enjoy; provide generous hospitality and take good care of our natural resources and possessions. We partake in God’s work of providence when we feed and care for people, steward schools, parks and neighbourhoods. Adam was instructed to do this work in Genesis 2:15.

    Work of justice.

    Christians have a role to play in maintaining justice and restraining evil in the world. We imitate God’s work of justice when we contribute to our legal system; maintain law and order; work and pray for righteous laws and leaders to rule for the good of all citizens; and treat people fairly and impartially, hearing “the small and the great alike” (Deut 1:17).

    We do God’s work of justice when we defend the innocent from the oppressor and speak for the unborn who cannot speak for themselves (Prov 31:8; Prov 24:11-12; Jer 22:3). We do God’s work of justice when we pay our staff on time and do not exploit our vulnerable employees (Deut 24:14-15; Lev 19:13).

    God calls His people in every generation “to seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts” (Amos 5:15). Christ also calls Christians to uphold justice and truth in the local church (Matt 18:15-17).

    Work of compassion.

    We emulate God’s work of compassion and mercy when we are involved in comforting, healing, charitable, and shepherding vocations (James 2:13; Col 3:12; 1 Peter 5:4).

    Work of revelation.

    We mirror God’s revelationary work when we teach, speak, sing, or write words that express wisdom and insight. Daniel was an example of such a worker, “skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding and learning” (Daniel 1:3-4). In fact, every Christian is equipped to do the work of teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, provided that the “word of Christ is richly dwelling within us” (Col 3:16).

    The glory of the nations.

    In Revelation 21, John says that the kings of the earth will bring the “glory of the nations” into the new heavens and new earth. This seems to suggest that valid work from every nation will contribute something beautiful to the new creation, for the benefit of all God’s people (Rev 21:24-26). Our work is not wasted.

    But although our work is valuable, and should reflect the excellence and beauty of our God, Scripture warns that it should never become a source of pride, self-sufficiency or idolatry. Our work is for God’s glory, not our own. Paul warns Christians not to be driven by selfish ambition and vain conceit, but rather to serve humbly, as Christ served us in His work:

    “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4).

    Our work and God’s work.

    Truthfully, all our plans, efforts, and abilities are useless unless the Lord prospers them.

    We are called to be prudent in our work, but also to pray; to be diligent, but also to depend on the Lord. We are called to provide for our families, but also to trust in God’s providence, for it is the Lord who causes the sun to rise, and He sends the rain. While the farmer uses his skills and resources to plough, plant, fertilise, weed, and harvest a crop, he must also trust the Lord to control nature so his crop will grow.

    In an age of self-sufficiency, the Psalmist reminds workers to live in conscious dependence on God’s daily provision:

    “Unless the Lord builds the house,
        those who build it labour in vain.
    Unless the Lord watches over the city,
        the watchman stays awake in vain” (Ps 127:1)

    It is dangerous to reach a place of abundance and complacency where we say, as the Israelites said, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”

    Moses warns us: “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deut 8:17-18).

    Prayer

    Heavenly Father, for as long as you give us strength and opportunity, we long to do the work you have given us to do on earth. Help us to use our time wisely to steward your creation, and demonstrate love for you and our neighbour while we do it. Thank you for the privilege of partaking in your work in the world, and we ask for the ability and strength to do it excellently and faithfully, even though we will never do it perfectly. We ask that you establish the work of our hands and make it fruitful and pleasing to you.

    Amen.

  • Work: Gift or Curse?

    Work: Gift or Curse?

    Series: Born to Work (part 2)

    Work preceded the Fall. It isn’t evil, nor a side effect of sin, but work is part of the good universe that God created and essential to the blessing bestowed on Adam and Eve (Gen 1:28-31). Since the creation, God has given us work to do, so Christians everywhere, in every age, should see all our work as worship. Even in the least glamorous and most mundane job on earth, we can be fruitful in our work.

    In fact, Scripture mentions more than five thousand professions, trades, and means of employment, including weavers and spinners, stonemasons and craftsmen, builders, carpenters and tanners, musicians, poets and washermen, merchants and physicians, tentmakers and blacksmiths, soldiers and tax collectors, priests, prophets and scribes, watchmen and shepherds, farmers and fishermen, doctors and lawyers, cupbearers, bakers, kings and queens. I’m sure I’ve missed a few! The Bible does not distinguish between noble and lowly, blue collar and white collar work. Those are the world’s categories, not the Lord’s.

    A gift.

    Since God intends our work for His glory and our good, work is a gift to enjoy. It is not a burden to endure. Our specific job may not be needed in the new heavens and new earth, but our work still elicits God’s pleasure and Christ’s eternal reward. Paul urges us to put our whole hearts into our work, as if we are working for the Lord, not a human master:

    “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favourtism.” (Col 3:23-25).

    If this was God’s instruction for a first century slave with no rights or status, it is surely for us too, irrespective of our occupation.

    Solomon observed that work is intrinsically valuable and satisfying, regardless of how our culture perceives an occupation:

     “This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labour under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart” (Eccl 5:18-20).

    But wait a minute, didn’t the curse of Genesis 3 turn work into toil and futility, sweat and tears? Didn’t God say to Adam,

     “Cursed is the ground because of you;
        through painful toil you will eat food from it
        all the days of your life.
    It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
        and you will eat the plants of the field.
    By the sweat of your brow
        you will eat your food
    until you return to the ground,
        since from it you were taken;
    for dust you are
        and to dust you will return.” (Gen 3:17-19).

    So then, is work a gift or a curse?

    The curse.

    Genesis 3 gives us a realistic framework to understand why we have so much frustration and painful toil in our work. The curse explains the daily grind of producing fruit from stubborn ground, infested with thorns and thistles:

    A harsh boss or lazy employee. Relentless deadlines and assignments. Unfair pay and no job security. Under appreciation and partiality. Long shifts and office politics. Incompetent managers and annoying co-workers. Mundane and repetitive tasks. Computer crashes and loadshedding. Market crashes, bankruptcy and retrenchment. Corruption, theft and collusion. Workplace bullying. Regulations and red tape. Traffic jams, transport problems and inadequate resources. Chronic illness and burnout.

    Whether we are an employer, employee, entrepreneur, volunteer, student, or homemaker, the curse means that we must expect to face obstacles and temptations in our work. The blood, sweat and tears of work may seem overwhelming at times, and the Bible doesn’t minimize the effects of sin. The curse is real.

    Purposeful work.

    But despite often feeling frustrated in our jobs, the Bible assures us that work has intrinsic value and dignity, because our Creator God is himself a worker, and we are made in His image. The fact that God’s Son was a carpenter who worked hard with his hands from the age of about twelve to thirty (Luke 3:23) implies that productive work is part of God’s plan for his children.

    That is why we are commanded to labour six days and on the seventh day to rest (Ex 20:9-10).  We have been given responsibility to care for God’s Creation, to cultivate it and tend it. This is our work.

    Moreover, our work is part of the “all things” that God works together for the good of those who love Him, to sanctify us and make us more like Christ (Rom 8:28-29). The fact that work is intended for our good and God’s glory gives our work a transcendent purpose.

    And so, as a believer, my attitude and the way I do my work (especially when it’s hard) is a powerful witness to the world. In fact, in writing to the Thessalonian Christians, Paul mentions diligent work as one of the marks of those who “walk properly before outsiders”. Our witness is not evangelizing our colleagues.  It is earning their respect by working hard and doing our job faithfully:

    “But we urge you, brothers… to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,  so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one” (1 Thess 4:11-12).

    And so, when we are discouraged by our work, we need to see our labours through God’s eyes, not through the blurry lens of our emotions or the world’s false philosophies. A clear biblical perspective will take the drudgery and boredom out of work. It will remind us that our work is not so much about what we do, but what we are, and who we are becoming. 

    In the adversity of painful toil, God is testing our faith to grow perseverance (Rom 5:3; James 1:3). He is teaching us that our strength to work comes only from Him, through faith. It is the Lord who establishes the work of our hands, not ourselves (Ps 90:17).

    Dualism versus dignity.

    One of the most destructive philosophies about work springs from the Ancient Greek lie of dualism. Dualism assumes that the physical is lowly and common, whereas the spiritual is elevated and lofty.

    That’s why first century slaves were made to do all the manual work. The free people took pleasure in art, philosophy, music, literature, and politics, which they believed were noble works of the mind. Similarly, Jewish culture had a disdain for secular work, reflected in this proud prayer from the Talmud:

    “I thank You, O Lord, my God, that You have given me my lot with them who sit in the house of learning and not with those who sit at the street corners, for I am early to work and they are early to work. I am early to work on the words of the Torah and they are early to work on things of no importance. I weary myself and they weary themselves, but I weary myself and profit thereby and they weary themselves to no profit. I run and they run. I run towards the life of the age to come and they run toward the pit of destruction.”

    We may say, “What an awful self righteous prayer!” But dualism comes in subtle disguises today. It may lead us to reject the work that God has given us to do, to feel ashamed of our work or title, and to make sinful comparisons with others. It may tempt us to envy those with more recognition, status, or success than us, or it may fool us into believing that certain work is below us. Full-time Christian workers may begin to feel smug and superior to lay Christians, believing themselves to be “professionals” while ordinary Christians have inferior jobs of hay, wood and stubble.

    In contrast, the Bible has a high view of work, including manual labour. Scripture is refreshingly down-to-earth and sensible about work to keep food on the table and rain off our heads. The Bible certainly does not call us to a life of leisure, nor does it distinguish between first- and second-class work:

     “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing” (Prov 20:4). And again, “If a man is lazy, the rafters sag, and if his hands are idle, the house leaks” (Eccl 10:18).

    While dualism equates physical labour with low status in life, the Bible equates hard work with human dignity. The calling of a minister is not higher than other vocations such as business, carpentry or bricklaying.

    Go to the ant, you sluggard!

    There is nothing elitist about God’s Word. Christians are called to see work as part of our worship, whether we wear a suit or an overall, whether we work with a scalpel or spade. The Bible commends those who are self-motivated and diligent in their work but has harsh words for anybody who finds an excuse not to work hard. Hard work is a spiritual law that God has woven into his Creation. Even the tiny ant understands it:

    “Go to the ant, O sluggard;
        consider her ways, and be wise.
    Without having any chief,
        officer, or ruler,
    she prepares her bread in summer
        and gathers her food in harvest.

    How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
        When will you arise from your sleep?
    A little sleep, a little slumber,
        a little folding of the hands to rest,
    and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
        and want like an armed man.” (Prov 6:6-11).

    Do you see a man skilled in his work?

    Our kids are in their twenties now, in the throes of learning new skills and struggling to keep up with the demands of their work. Two of them are in healthcare and will have no control over where they are sent to do internship and community service.

    We cannot always choose our work hours, our boss, or our career path, but we can always choose how we will work. Solomon focuses on our responsibility to become skillful in our work, regardless of our occupation:

    “Do you see a man skilled in his work?
        He will serve before kings;
        he will not stand before obscure men” (Prov 22:29).

    Angela Duckworth agrees:

    “…There are no shortcuts to excellence. Developing real expertise, figuring out really hard problems, it all takes time―longer than most people imagine….you’ve got to apply those skills and produce goods or services that are valuable to people….Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay loyal to it…it’s doing what you love, but not just falling in love―staying in love.”
    ― Angela Duckworth, Grit: Passion, Perseverance, and the Science of Success.

    Prayer

    Lord, we know that the Fall affects much of our work, but we thank you that your redemption influences every area of life too. Thank you that Jesus died for us, rose for us, reigns in power for us, and prays for us in our work. We long for the restoration of all things, but in the meantime, we pray for eyes to see how our work can participate in the redemption of all life. As we go to work this week, help us to see that we are all priests called to offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim your excellency in a world of darkness (1 Peter 2:5; 9-10). Help us to trust in you for strength and to establish the work of our hands. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

     

     

  • Confessions of a Homemaker

    Confessions of a Homemaker

    Series: Born to work, by Rosie Moore.

    “The necessity for work—to be a creative, productive being—is built into man: Adam was created to be a working being” (Jay Adams, A Theology of Christian Counseling).

    As Christians, we believe that productive work is part of God’s design and is commanded by God (2 Thess 3:10-12; Gen 1:28; 2:15). We also know that sin has distorted and defiled work, making it hard, painful and often unfulfilling (Gen 3:17-19; Eccl 2:17-29). Yes, we are born to work, but work is not an end in and of itself. More accurately, we are born to worship our Creator in and through our work.

    Confessions of a homemaker.

    I confess that one of the most crippling lies I have believed in my lifetime relates to work and vocation. It was a “hollow and deceptive philosophy” that captivated me, a pretension that set itself up against the knowledge of God which needed to be demolished (Col 2:6-8; 2 Cor 10:5). Let me try to describe this lie to you as best as I can:

    As a woman educated within a worldly system, I wrongly assumed that being a steward of a home is an inferior calling. For many years I allowed the pendulum of what our culture values to sway my own thoughts and feelings about my work as a wife and mother. And because of this faulty thinking, I was ambushed at odd moments by the feminist lie that a woman’s identity is built on her public persona and accomplishments, especially a salaried job outside the home.

    But through Scripture, the Holy Spirit has progressively reshaped my twisted idea of work, plucking out the seeds of false guilt and futility that the enemy sowed in my heart. Paul’s instruction in Titus 2:1-5 convicted and corrected me in my sinful thinking about work as a Christian woman:

    “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

    Firstly, it’s important to debunk some myths about Titus 2:1-5: We know from examples of godly women like Lydia (a seller of purple cloth) and the industrious woman of Proverbs 31, that Paul is not saying that women should only work at home. Nor does this text imply that women have no place in the public arena or forbid us from being compensated financially for our work. Paul is not saying that Christian women should submit to all men and never contribute to church, community, or culture. These caricatures would deny the valuable contributions made by women in the early church and throughout history (Romans 16:1-15).

    But Titus 2 convinced me not to despise the vocation that God Himself has chosen for me as a woman. In his divine wisdom, He has given me specific work to do. He has given me a home, a family, and other responsibilities. Since God has called me to marriage and motherhood, obedience means faithfully doing the work He has set before me. It means obeying God’s commands to “work heartily as for the Lord, not for men” (Col 3:23), even when it seems repetitive and doesn’t deliver a fixed salary.

    Working heartily at home.

    Many workers are disillusioned when their job doesn’t deliver the fulfilment they seek, and homemakers are no exception. But for a Christian, job satisfaction comes from glorifying God in and through our work (Eccl 5:18-20). Fulfilment and joy are byproducts of heartfelt obedience to the Lord in whatever work God has given us to do.

    The Bible promises that when we pour ourselves heartily into our work, the Lord Himself will reward us in the future.

    “Work heartily…knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance” (Col 3:24).

    In the here and now, the Lord wants our wholehearted devotion. He commands us to work heartily, not out of a sense of duty or to earn His approval. In her practical little book titled, “How can I feel productive as a Mom?” Esther Engelsma warns women about the temptation of laziness, which produces a discontented and unproductive lifestyle. The antidote to laziness and lack of peace is to ‘work heartily, as for the Lord’.  Engelsma writes,

    “The exhaustion that comes at the end of a day of hard work is a far better feeling than the tiredness at the end of a lazy day of short tasks sandwiched between long breaks on social media. It is laziness that breeds discontent, not work. And while work does not guarantee contentment, you will never be content if you don’t do the work the Lord has put in front of you. It is in obedience that you find peace.”

    I have come to see that job satisfaction does not come from being productive in the world’s eyes or bringing home an impressive salary or raising well behaved kids, but from glorifying God and growing in godliness in and through my work at home. My work as a homemaker is my worship, an apt response to Christ’s work on the cross for me.

    Glorifying God at home.

    The first reason why work is inherently valuable is that it glorifies God. According to Titus 2, it glorifies God when women learn to be kind, pure and loving at home; content and grateful in their work, instead of believing that it is beneath them. It honours God when wives gladly follow their husbands’ leadership and team up with other women to share a Christian vision for their homes, helping each other live out this vision in practice.

    It pleases the Lord when older women, who have experienced the joys and challenges of homemaking, walk alongside younger women, offering godly encouragement, advice and prayers. This mentoring work is no less valuable than Adam tending the garden of Eden, or an architect designing a magnificent building, or a surgeon performing a heart operation. No person is more aptly suited to perform this role than an older woman who has walked with the Lord through the ups and downs of life.

    Titus 2:1-5 assures women that even if our culture does not affirm the significance of work within our homes, God sees and values the small moments of life. If Jesus “emptied himself” by taking upon Him the form of a servant (Phil 2:7), women imitate and glorify Christ when we pour out our energy, time, and abilities for those He calls us to influence at home.

    The Lord is pleased when you show little ones the beauty of His world and the wonder of the gospel. He is glorified when you love your work, use your time and resources well, and bring order and harmony to your home.

    Growing in godliness at home.

    The second reason why our work at home is inherently valuable is that it is designed to sanctify us day by day, year by year. We often forget this overarching purpose of our lives as believers. The Lord is always working all things for our good. And our ‘good’ is not a salary, nor praise, nor kids that make us look like good parents. Rather, our ‘good’ is that we are conformed to the image of Jesus, by the Spirit’s power (Rom 8:28-29). That means that God will infuse into our work exactly what is needed for our growth in godly character and faith.

    And so, if you are a young Christian wife with children, this means that the Lord Jesus hears every word you speak to your husband and children. He plans the fights you must mediate; the disappointments and failures you must respond to; the moments you come face to face with your own pride. He is working with you, and in you, as you prepare meals, drive the kids to school and sit beside the sport’s field.

    Christ watches over you as you shepherd young hearts to help them grow in their relationship with Him. He knows every sin you need to confess and forsake, every painful step to discipline a wayward child, or break sinful patterns of the past. He wants you to learn to trust Him increasingly through this long and unpredictable job of building a home and family.

    Your work is not to tick off boxes with your children, but to show them Jesus, so that when the Holy Spirit works in their lives, they are ready to believe. And in those seasons when you wonder if you have what it takes to be successful, be sure that you don’t have what it takes! But Jesus does. You need daily time in the Word to renew your mind; daily time in prayer to guard your heart; and intimate communion with God’s people to strengthen you with wisdom, hope, and love. You need Christ’s grace to grow in godliness and find your identity in Him alone, especially in trying circumstances.

    Women at work.

    Christian women of all ages and stages are called to faithful and fruitful work. God intends us to use our time well, to be enthusiastic, diligent workers who are a blessing to others. We see the nature of this work in the noble woman of Proverbs 31:

    “Her husband has full confidence in her

    And lacks nothing of value.

    She brings him good, not harm…

    She sets about her work vigorously;

    Her arms are strong for her tasks…

    She watches over the affairs of her household

    And does not eat the bread of idleness” (Prov 31:11-12; 17; 27).

    This doesn’t mean that we should neglect other important aspects of our lives, such as caring for the poor (Prov 31:20), visiting the sick, and reaching out to those who don’t know Christ, but the most important work a woman can do is to love and serve those whom God has entrusted to our care. This ‘home work’ is God’s work.

    I am now on the other spectrum of homemaking. As an empty nester, Titus 2 reminds me that “teaching what is good and training the young women to be godly in their own homes” is fruitful work in God’s eyes (Titus 2:4-5). The work of motherhood and homemaking must be learned from someone, and the world is a terrible tutor. At 82, my own mother continues to empty herself in service to her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She has always been a blessing and a mentor, and today “her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also” (Prov 31:28).

    Although we may never receive tangible rewards for homemaking, the Lord is writing the small, everyday work women do at home into His great story of redemption, for his glory and our good. Like every other worker, we are participating in God’s creation mandate (Gen 1:28). It is a great work from which we must not be distracted (Nehemiah 6:3), as stewardship of homes and families lies at the heart, not the periphery, of God’s mission in his world.

    To the extent that I have embraced this truth about my work, I have found joy and purpose as a steward of our home. It has been a privilege to be entrusted with the nurturing of family, to create a warm haven for my husband and four children, plus the wonderful son and daughter we recently acquired through marriage. I want my home to always be a place where outsiders feel welcomed and I am thankful to be involved in the lives of young adults who will, God willing, become stewards of their own homes one day.

    Nancy Wolgemuth concludes, “The heart for honouring Christ in and through our homes may express itself in different ways and may require more or less time and effort, depending on our season of life. But whether young or old, married or single, whether we own or rent our home or share an apartment or dorm room, the place we call “home” provides an opportunity to magnify Christ and bless others.”

    Preview of the next few weeks….

    I have shared this anecdote about my own faulty relationship with work to illustrate one of the many lies that a Christian may believe about work. Work is a good gift from God, but because of the curse it also presents many frustrations, pitfalls and temptations to sin (Gen 3:17-19).

    Join us in the next few weeks as we explore various Scriptures to understand work as a valuable part of God’s design for human beings.

    Sources and further reading:

    • Esther Engelsma, How I can feel productive as a Mom? Reformation Heritage Books, 2017.
    • Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free. Moody Publishers, 2001.
    • Rachel Jankovic, You Who? Why you matter and how to deal with it. 
    • Nancy Pearcey, Total Truth– Liberating Christianity from its Cultural Captivity.
    • Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child’s Heart. Shepherd Press, 1995.
  • Why Christ’s calling matters more than our occupation

    Why Christ’s calling matters more than our occupation

    [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Around 2600 years ago, the prophet Jeremiah wrote:

    “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
        or the strong boast of their strength
        or the rich boast of their riches,
    but let the one who boasts boast about this:
        that they have the understanding to know me,
    that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
        justice and righteousness on earth,
        for in these I delight,”
    declares the Lord. (Jer 9:23-24 ESV)

    This is surely one of the most counter-cultural messages ever recorded! It’s hard to resist our culture’s creed that says we should be doing something bigger, better, somewhere else. Or the self help ideologies that reveal the secret to unleash our inner greatness. The promise is that if we change our mindset, we will change our circumstances. And if we change our circumstances, all our problems will dissolve. After all, what can stand against the power of wealth, intelligence and physical strength?

    Cultural gurus continue to feed the pride, discontent and restlessness that has marked humanity since the Fall. An Amazon bestseller has the sub-title, How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life.  The implication is clearly that your current life isn’t too great! Another by a self-made musical superstar is titled, It’s all in your own head— “a reminder that it starts with YOU, to believe in yourself, and to get out of your own way”. Eckart Tolle’s latest book promises Awakening to our Life’s Purpose and Anthony Ferris gives us the secrets to working a 4-hour workweek in Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. Even in the so-called ‘Christian’ category, we are faced with Soar (TD Jakes); The Power of Favour; I declare and Ten Powerful thoughts for a successful, abundant life”(Joel Osteen).

    As a Christian, it can be hard to remain rooted in God’s priorities for our lives, to be content wherever He has placed us and to serve Christ faithfully in the small, mundane things which make up our current circumstances. That’s why Paul’s words to the first century Christians in Corinth are so apt and freeing for believers today. Today’s text hushes the restless sirens and reminds us that our calling in Christ matters infinitely more than our external status:

    Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God…

    29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1 Cor 7:17-24; 29-31 ESV).

    Outward circumstances versus inner calling

    Like us, the Corinthian Christians needed to grasp that their identity and significance was securely anchored in their Christian calling— not in cultural and religious symbols or social status. “Don’t be fooled by your rank!” says Paul, “You are free to serve Christ as Lord in and through every season and station of life—even if you are a slave, the least esteemed of all.” (1 Cor 7:19; 21; 22).

    This is a truly liberating message for Christians in a FOMO culture that assumes we are always stuck in the wrong place, with the wrong people, on the wrong side of the track! Christ’s calling re-sets our priorities and revolutionises our lives from the inside out. When the purpose of our lives is to honour, serve and speak for Christ, every job, no matter how menial, is significant Christian work. If God has placed you where you are, there will be opportunities to serve him there.

    Paul applies this general principle to the two extreme social and religious distinctions of his time: Circumcision and Slavery. His answer to these two cultural boulders was radical in first century Corinth: Paul dismisses them as irrelevant! (1 Cor 7:19; 21) All that matters is serving Christ and being obedient to Him wherever God has placed them. They are first and foremost Christians.

    What a shock to the Jewish believer’s mindset, which regarded circumcision as everything! It was the difference between being an insider and an outsider. The other half of the congregants were Gentile Greeks, who looked down on the circumcised. Similarly, a slave had the lowliest status of all. Slaves were the epitome of insignificance, yet Paul says their work and identity are also shaped by their calling in Christ, not by their status or job.

    To change or not to change

    Paul’s general rule to remain in the condition in which we are called does not mean that change is always wrong (1 Cor 7:17; 20; 24). In fact, in verse 21b, Paul expressly tells slaves to use whatever opportunities they have to buy their freedom and improve their lot in life.

    We also know that Christ’s call demands that we completely shed an illegal or immoral life, which may mean a career change or a big move for some Christians (1 Cor 6:11; Luke 19:8).

    Paul himself encourages us to change our style and methods of ministry to reach diverse people for the gospel (1 Cor 9:19-24).

    Good stewardship of our gifts and opportunities leaves no space for an attitude of complacency or fatalism as Christians. We are always called to make choices with wisdom and prayer. But Paul’s message is clear: When Christ calls us, He is our new Master and we belong to Him wherever we find ourselves. We are freed from sin’s bondage and from cultural practices that have been fulfilled in Christ (Acts 15; Rom 4:9-11; Gal 5:2-4; Col 2:11). The only obstacle to serving and obeying Christ is sin—Not our external circumstances.

    Swimming against the tide

    I consider this passage as one of my favourites because it has often reminded me that the Christian life is simple and liberating. We are bondservants of Christ, not of men! Bought at a price and responsible to Him alone! (1 Cor 7:22; 23-24 NIV) When we serve Christ, God leads us with cords of kindness and ties of love, like a loving parent leads his child (Hos 11:4). His fetters always lead to true freedom and flourishing.

    I turned 50 this year and have spent most of my married life as a stay-at-home mom. I’m now in my twentieth year of school lifts, lunch boxes, homework and exams! It’s impossible to quantify the tears I’ve dried, conversations, trips made to the ER and desperate prayers I’ve prayed for our kids. Yet sometimes in my insecure moments, I’ve felt that I don’t measure up to our culture’s yardstick of success and have wished for a career, title and income to prove my significance. Our third child is now in matric and in her last week before finals, the entire grade dressed up for their future vocation. Many doctors, lawyers and accountants arrived at school, but my daughter and her friends were dressed in an array of outfits, from ultra casual, to baggy tracksuits and slinky gym pants! They didn’t represent any recognisable career category, so I asked them who they were: “Oh, can’t you see that we’re the ‘coffee shop moms’!? You know, the ones who don’t go to work and spend their day at pilates, drinking skinny lattes and things like that!” They thought they were hilarious, but I sincerely hoped they didn’t tar all stay-at-home moms with the same brush!

    The truth is that whatever our occupation or status, most of us feel restless from time to time, wondering if we’re in the right place and doing the right thing. We sometimes confuse our occupation with our calling as Christ’s bondservant. At 18 we worry that we are choosing the wrong career path, and from midlife onwards we wake up in a cold sweat worrying that the grains of sand have finally slipped through the hourglass! Like our culture, Christians also long for significance and fear not being useful or wasting our lives.

    Christians are also tempted to blame our circumstances for not living for Christ in the here and now: My family, my employer, my unemployment, my financial situation, my depression, my sickness, my spouse, my education, my career choice, my singleness, my failure, my local church, my emotional baggage…

    All of these and many others are possible excuses for not serving Christ and being discontent with our lot in life.

    But if Jesus is our master, His yoke is easy. All He asks is that we remain faithful in the small things he has entrusted to us, wherever we are. He calls us to know and love Him, to exercise kindness and justice, and to walk obediently in whatever life He has assigned to us. We are free to ‘use’ the things of this world, but not to become ‘engrossed’ in them, “for this world in its present form is passing away” (1 Cor 7:31 NIV). Perhaps that’s why Paul reminded Timothy:

    “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6).

    Worship

    Listen to one of my favourite songs by Casting Crowns, The Very Next Thing.

    Lord, help me to trust your rule in the life you have assigned to me, and to live for you wherever I am and whatever I do. Forgive me for my grumbling and restlessness, and fill me instead with your Spirit, so that I am content and joyful in any and every circumstance. Fix my eyes on Jesus so that I will seize every opportunity to show others who He is. In Jesus’ name.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”center center” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” hover_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding=”2%” margin_top=”2%” margin_bottom=”2%” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Receive our latest devotion in your Inbox[/fusion_title][fusion_code]Q2xpY2sgZWRpdCBidXR0b24gdG8gY2hhbmdlIHRoaXMgY29kZS4=[/fusion_code][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”5%” padding_right=”5%” hundred_percent=”yes” equal_height_columns=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_title size=”2″ content_align=”left” style_type=”default” sep_color=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Other devotions from the God Walk…[/fusion_title][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_recent_posts layout=”default” hover_type=”none” columns=”3″ number_posts=”6″ offset=”” cat_slug=”devotion” exclude_cats=”” thumbnail=”yes” title=”yes” meta=”no” excerpt=”yes” excerpt_length=”0″ strip_html=”yes” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][/fusion_recent_posts][fusion_text]– more devotions –[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]