Saturday, 15 August 2009

• God's Gift: Work

    Many Christians hold an unbiblical view of work. Some view it as part of the curse of living in a fallen world. And others make it into an idol, expecting it to provide them with their identity and purpose in life as well as being a source of joy and fulfillment that only YHWH can provide.
  
  How does YHWH want us to see work?
  
   Consider Ephesians 6:5-8, which Paul writes to slaves but which we can apply to employees:
  
  Slaves, obey your human masters with the same fear, trembling and singleheartedness with which you obey the Messiah. Don't obey just to win their favor, serving only when they are watching you; but serve as slaves of the Messiah, doing what God wants with all your heart. Work willingly as slaves, as people do who are serving not merely human beings but the Lord. Remember that whoever does good work, whether he be a slave or a free man, will be rewarded by the Lord.
  (Ephesians 6:5-8 cjb)
  
  We actually work for YHWH Himself!
  
  It might be helpful to think that behind every employer stands the Yeshua b(Jesus). He sees everything we do, and He appreciates it and will reward us, regardless of the type of work we do.
  
  YHWH also wants us to see that work is His gift to us. It is not a result of the Fall. YHWH gave Adam and Eve the job of taking care of  the garden and to have dominion over the world before sin entered the world. We were created to work. We were created for work. Work is YWHW's  gift to us!
  
  Here is  what Solomon wrote:
  
  This is what I have seen to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, drink and enjoy the good that results from all his work that he engages in under the sun for all the days of his life that God has given him, for this is his allotted portion. Also, everyone to whom God has given riches and wealth, along with the power to enjoy it, so that he takes his allotted portion and finds pleasure in his work - this is a gift of God;
  (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 cjb)
  
  Being happy in our work depends on our attitude; it doesn't depend on the work. To make the most of our jobs and to be happy in our work is a gift YHWH wants to give us!
  

    It is YHWH's provision in a number of ways.
  
  1. Through work we serve people. Most work is part of a huge network of interconnected jobs, industries, goods and services that work together to meet people's physical needs. Other jobs meet people's aesthetic and spiritual needs as well.
  
  2. Through work we meet our own needs. Work allows us to exercise the gifts and abilities YHWH us; whether paid or unpaid. YHWH expects adults to provide for themselves and not live off of others.
  
  For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: if someone won't work, he shouldn't eat!
  (2 Thessalonians 3:10 cjb)
  
  3. Through work we meet our family's needs. YHWH expects the heads of households to provide for their families.
  
  Moreover, anyone who does not provide for his own people, especially for his family, has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
  (1 Timothy 5:8 cjb)
  
  4. Through work we earn money to give to others. In both the Old and New Testaments, YHWH tells us to be generous in meeting the needs of the poor and those who minister to us spiritually.
  
  Likewise, don't gather the grapes left on the vine or fallen on the ground after harvest; leave them for the poor and the foreigner; I am ADONAI your God.
  (Leviticus 19:10 cjb)
  
  The thief must stop stealing; instead, he should make an honest living by his own efforts. This way he will be able to share with those in need.
  (Ephesians 4:28 cjb)
  
  5. Through work we love YHWH. One of YHWH's love languages is obedience. When we work, we are obeying His two great commandments to love Him and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
  
  He told him, "`You are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.' This is the greatest and most important mitzvah. And a second is similar to it, `You are to love your neighbor as yourself.' All of the Torah and the Prophets are dependent on these two mitzvot."
  (Matthew 22:37-40 cjb)
  
  We love YHWH by obeying Him from the heart. We love our neighbor as we serve other people through our work.
  
  We bring glory to YHWH by working industriously, demonstrating what He is like, and serving others by cooperating with YHWH to meet their needs. In serving others, we serve YHWH. And that's why our work matters to YHWH.

  Do you feel like you love and serve God through your work? Could work bring you closer to God? When you are unsatisfied with the work you do, is it important to persist in obedience to God?
  

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