“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.” – Isaiah 65:17
We don’t like working. Or, maybe we just don’t like the work we do. A recent study found that two-thirds of American employees are disengaged, to one degree or another, at their jobs.
The number has been on the uptick for years. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t help. Millions took the opportunity to quit working altogether.
The sad truth is that many people are unhappy on the job. Given how much time we spend at work, it can’t help but spill over into other parts of our lives. Who wants to live non-joyfully?
Perhaps the picture would brighten if we reframed work. Most people work for an employer. They perform specific tasks. The employer pays them.
Let’s try a different take: How about if we work for God?
God won’t directly pay us (literally). Yet don’t we give thanks to Him daily for the blessings we enjoy? In this sense, hasn’t he already “paid” us … and quite well?
Consider another take. The money we earn working allows us to support the church, and its missions undertaken in God’s name. The Bible has much to say about money – yet these entities can’t operate without it.
We are called into service to reclaim the world for Christ. Truly accepting this commission, though, means more than giving money away.
Workplaces are the source of many relationships. How we work, and interact with others in these environments, allows us to witness to God’s love and generosity. Are we taking advantage of this opportunity to tell others about Christ?
We should see work as laboring unto God. For a real wholesale shift of view, let’s accept that everything we have belongs to Christ – and we put it all at His service.
Still feeling disengaged about work?
Accepting a Holy Task
“The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.” – Psalms 37:29
Work is a basic human need. Human beings require purpose, lest they go astray down unhealthy (and sometimes dangerous) paths. Ever hear the old saying, “Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop?”
Work, and its sense of accomplishment, feeds our souls. Moreover, our work is of interest to God!
God understands work. Remember, in Genesis, He is a gardener. In the Gospels, in the form of Jesus, He labors as a carpenter.
Heaven, where God resides, is a place of instruction. Earth is a place of implementation.
God is on a mission to redeem the world, and reclaim it for His glory. The Second Coming lies ahead. Our work can lay the groundwork. We can help renew all things.
Can we reimagine work as a service unto the Lord? Instead of seeking to escape this world – via the countless avenues available today – can we engage in it for His cause?
No one says it’s easy. We must proclaim that Christ’s light pushes back the forces of darkness that seek to envelop us. Instead of bowing to cultural conformity, we should hold up holiness as a worthy, admirable pursuit.
This includes time spent in our “work life.” Faith shouldn’t be shoved into a small corner of our existence. Rather, every segment of our lives should revolve around faith.
If it sounds like a bit of work – it is! Except, there’s a new boss in town. He’s giving us a holy purpose, and plenty of opportunity to accomplish it. Let’s engage fully. The work ahead is important. Now is not the time to take a break!
(If you’re ready to embrace Christ, He’s ready for you. Visit C-Suite for Christ to join in Christ-centered fellowship with other professionals. Join us as a member. Plant a chapter where you live. Consider becoming a corporate partner. Follow C-Suite for Christ on LinkedIn and Facebook. Questions? Contact Paul M. Neuberger at (414) 313-8338 or pneuberger@csuiteforchrist.com.)
