Laboring As Unto Christ

Laboring As Unto Christ

Rethinking Our Attitude About Work

The Bible says, "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. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. - Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven." (Colossians 3:23 - 4:1)

This passage of Scripture is found in Colossians 3:21 placed under a preoccupy, a title if you will, "Living as Those Made Alive in Christ." The Apostle is teaching a truth to slaves and slave masters - that is just as real for us who are free, people who work for others and/or your an employer with people working for you.

I would propose to you, that living out the truths in this message, will make you and I a witness for the Lord that surpasses the average wage earner, that causes people to take note of the life we live in obedience to the written Word of God. The heart of the average employee is more influenced by a world view rather than having the mind of Christ, as the Bible tells you and me to have. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)

Just what is God's attitude towards work? What is to be our motivation? What is our Biblical exhortation?

God's View Of Work

The Bible has specific teachings about work. Part of one of the ten commandments says, "Six days you shall labor and do your work." (Exodus 20:9) This command comes from God who sets the example before us as being a worker. The Bible says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) By the end of the sixth day He made the sun and moon, all the living creatures, everything on this earth for Him and us to enjoy. "And God saw that is was all good." (Genesis 1:25)

I know that there is nothing Pennie (my wife) and I would love to do more than take a long vacation, take a long bike ride - touring and seeing all the great creation our God has made. If every person were a specialist in landscaping, they could not get done what God has created, especially in six days. Even the best doctors and vets cannot create human beings or animals. No matter how smart and gifted they are, they cannot sustain life for eternity. When all is said that can be said, all is done that will be done, this earth as we know it will be burned up. But God will create a new heaven and a new earth. (Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1)

Have you heard the joke of a world renowned scientist meeting the Lord. In their discussion the scientist said, "We have become so efficient in our work we can even create a human being, just as good as you did, when you first created man. Mankind does not even need you any more, they got us." God said, "You go and create your human being out of what is yours, and I will continue to created mankind out of what I created."

The scientist walked off, as he left he reached down and picked up a handful of dirt, on which the God said, "Hey, Hey, you get your won dirt."

The Book of Psalms says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1) Jesus said, "My Father is always at His work to this very day..." (John 5:17) Dr. Charles Mayo of the famous Mayo Clinic once said, "There is no fun like work." The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes wrote, "...there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot..." (Ecclesiastes 3:22)

The key steps to doing our Labor As Unto Christ is to have a thankful enjoyment of God's gifts, seeing your job as a discharge from God, knowing God is going to bring all things under His judgment, (Ecclesiastes 11:9) and not seeing your job as simply and money seeking opportunity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10-17) The book of Exodus reminds us that is the Lord who gives different abilities to achieve things and perform certain tasks. (Exodus 31:3) The writer of the Book of Thessalonians tells us, "if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Your Motivation

Once you get a Biblical perspective about work, then you should make sure your motivation is in good order. Proverbs 10: 4-5 has this truth, "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands brings wealth. He who gather crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son." 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 says, " Make it your ambition... to work... so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.