Another Monday, another workweek. Some of us love our jobs, while others of us just try to survive the day and pay the bills. Either way, as we head into work, we each face a set of unique difficulties and struggles. We may yearn for one day when we retire, relax, and do what we want! But consider with me, why has God given us work? Is work a punishment? How can we make the most of our jobs?
Work is a Context for Life and Faith
If you have only reserved Sunday morning church for God in your life, you have severely narrowed the scope of where God wants to bring His joy into your life! Worship is not merely what we do on Sunday mornings! As Colossians 3:17 puts it: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Worship ought to pervade all we do, whether at church or home or work.
Consider with me for a moment: a 40-hour workweek is almost ¼ of the 168 hours in a week. In 50 years of employment, the average person will work a running total of 13 years and 2 months of their lives working. The only thing the average person does more than that is sleep! (reference: https://www.dreams.co.uk/sleep-matters-club/your-life-in-numbers-infographic/)
This must shape our mindset on our faith! Family and work are two major contexts in which we do much of life; yet, we are quick to abandon the power of God in these contexts to guide and enable us.
How Does My Faith Matter at Work?
Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 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 (Colossians 3:22-24).
This passage, while written to slaves in its time, has application for us in the workplace. The heart of the matter is that we would work “fearing the Lord,” meaning out of a relationship with the Lord that reveres and worships Him. We use this passage as a lens, while remembering that all of Scripture is important, powerful, and equips us for life and faith in the workplace, as it is one context in which we live out our faith. Here are some principles we can draw:
1.We will have trouble
John 16:33 has been a key verse for us thus far this year: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. To enter the workplace is to step into the world. We should not be surprised by the troubles we face, but find our peace and victory in Jesus!
2. We must obey our bosses
Sometimes bosses can be frustrating. To be under authority is difficult; it can be much more difficult when we disagree or don’t have the flexibility that we desire. However, since we recognize that Jesus is Lord and therefore our highest Boss, we can trust Him and submit to Him by submitting to our bosses. To serve our bosses is to serve the Lord.
3. We must lead well
Ephesians 6:9 gives a command for bosses as well: 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. Some of us may be bosses or may supervise others in the workplace. We must use our authority well, remembering that we answer to our Superior as well.
4. We give our best contribution
We all need money to survive, and we want to get paid well. However, we must go with the attitude and mindset that we are part of something bigger, and we get to contribute. We may associate work with the fall of man, but God gave work as a gift and stewardship to man before the fall: The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it (Genesis 2:15).
5. We represent Jesus
As we step into the workplace, there may be many people there who do not know or trust Jesus. We have the privilege of being salt and light where we work, and God can do beyond what we can even imagine. Let us dare not compromise the opportunity for someone to know Jesus and have eternal life by our petty selfishness at work, whether in arguments with others or seeking to fit in. Colossians also reminds us to put away anger, hatred, and obscene talk (3:8) and lying (3:9), and to instead be humble, patient, forgiving, have peace, and let our speech be gracious (4:6).
Work, while often difficult, is a gift from God, for our provision, as part of our purpose, and the context in which we see God’s promises and truths active in our lives. Don’t waste the opportunities God gives you today and this week at work!