OUR WORK MATTERS TO GOD
Colossians 3:18-24
I recently read that including commuting time, the average American works about 50 hours a week. What studies actually show is that the percentage of people working longer hours has grown significantly over the past 10 years but at the same time those working less hours has grown at the same rate.
This tells us a lot about what is going on in society right now including the fact that most of us are spending most of our waking hours working at our jobs. We are a working society.
Our culture places great emphasis on our employment. One of the first questions we ask someone is: What kind of work do you do? In one nursing home that I used to visit there was a sign on each residents door that gave the person’s name and former occupation; for example, Jane Smith; Teacher.
Even though we are a society that values employment and the opportunity to pursue the career of our choice, most persons are unhappy in their jobs. Studies show that most people will not only change jobs but will change careers two or three times in their lifetime. When I was in seminary most of my peers were in their 40’s, just beginning their work in the ministry. Some had been pharmacists, teachers, coaches, one was a medical doctor. Most beginning clergy today are middle aged.
I read one study this week that was startling. it suggested that most Americans were not only unhappy in their work but that 80% of working Americans felt they were presently occupying a job that was wrong for them!
With statistics like this it is safe to assume that many of us are discontent with our jobs. We are not as happy with what we do as we feel we should be. Does the Bible offer us any guidance in regard to our jobs? I believe it does.
In order for us to really begin to enjoy our jobs we need to realize that our work matters to God. Sometimes we convince ourselves that all God is interested in is the spiritual and moral side of our life; whether we are saying our prayers and avoiding sin. But God is interested in every dimension, in every aspect of our life including our work. In fact the Bible goes to great lengths to show us that God understands what it means to work. God is presented as a working God from the very beginning. In the creation story of Genesis 2 we read:
By the seventh day, God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Perhaps the greatest compliment God made to us was sending us a Savior who knew what it meant to work with his hands. Jesus was a carpenter and knew the constant demands of labor. Perhaps Henry Van Dyke expressed it well in his poem, "The Toiling of Felix", when he wrote:
This is the gospel of labor, ring it, ye bells of the kirk!
The Lord of love came down from above, to live with the men who work.
This is the rose that He planted, here in in thorn-crust soil:
Heaven’s blest with perfect rest, but the blessing of earth is toil.
Our work does matter to God and he understands the pressures we often face.
Then if we really want to enjoy our work and feel content with it, we must keep our priorities straight. I realize there are employers out there that would want us to believe that our jobs are the most important thing in life. If we make our job the number 1 priority we are headed for disaster and quite frankly we will never be content. As Christians our priorities should be: God, family, and then down the list a ways-work. If we put our jobs ahead of either of these we will soon discover that our life is out of control.
Money is important. The bills have to be paid. But friends, money or things cannot bring or buy happiness, friendships, or a family. Oh yes, work is important but it is not everything!
A survey of 300, 7th and 8th grade boys showed some tragic facts. The boys were to keep accurate records on how much time their fathers actually spent with them over a two week period.
Most saw their father only at the dinner table. A number never saw their father for days at a time. The average time father and son were alone together for an entire week was seven and a half minutes. Where do our priorities lie?
Those of us in the helping professions are not immune.
Dr. Bob Pierce was the founder of World Vision. He was a worldwide evangelist and missionary. He spent much of his life founding orphanages in Korea, rescuing children from death and starvation. He tells of an incident that occurred one Christmas Eve when he was in Stockholm traveling with the Korean Children’s Choir. He made a call home and talked to all the members of his family, wishing them a Merry Christmas. Finally, the youngest child got the phone. "Oh Daddy", she said. "I wish I was an orphan so I could be with you on Christmas Eve."
Do we have our priorities in order? We must constantly remind ourselves: God first, family meaning spouse, then children second, then work comes later.
In order to free ourselves to enjoy our work we must:
1. Realize that our work does matter to God.
2. That we must keep our priorities straight.
And 3. Remember that our job is not our vocation.
The Apostle Paul was a tent maker. He spent many hours every day making tents in order to make money to meet his daily needs. If we were to somehow transport ourselves back to the first century and walk into Paul’s workshop and ask him, "Paul, what do you do?" What do you think he would say? "I’m a tent maker. I spend 40 or 50 hours a week making tents. On the side, I do a little preaching and some small-group work." I don’t really think so. The majority of Paul’s time was spent making tents but somehow I think he would say something like, "I’ve been called by God to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. Incidentally, I make tents and I spend a good part of my day doing that." When we get down to it, our vocation as Christians is sharing Jesus with others.
We’ve talked a lot about studies this morning so I don’t guess it will hurt to refer to one more. Studies indicate that the number one need in a job is not the money or the prestige, it is the need to feel that what we are doing is worthwhile and will make a difference.
When we re-focus ourselves to see that our vocation is sharing Christ through whatever we do then how can we not make a difference in someone’s life?
Once there lived a very religious man who lived in Glasgow, Scotland. He taught Sunday School, preached in outdoor meetings, and served the church in many other ways. He was a baker by trade. One day on a train he was confronted by a zealous lady passenger who asked him if he was a Christian. When he replied in the affirmative, she asked him what work he did for the Master. "I bake", he said.
"Ah, I did not ask you about your trade, but what service do you give to him who redeemed you?"
"Madam, I bake."
She was a bit put off but persisted. "I mean how are you seeking to glorify Christ and spread his gospel?"
Again his only reply was, "I bake."
Johann Sebastian Bach wrote many beautiful pieces of music. At the top of every one he wrote the words, "To the glory of God." This should be our prayer as we go about our daily work-To The Glory of God!
One day a young priest complained to Mother Theresa about all the demands being put upon him and how it was taking away from his ability to serve the poor, which was his life’s passion. She responded, "Your vocation is not to serve the poor. Your vocation is to love Jesus."
As a spokesperson for Jesus, I would say to youth and children this morning, when you think about a career do not let your first question be: How much money will I make or How important will I be? Ask instead: How can I share Christ in what I do? As Paul wrote:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Gracious God--
Not only have you called us to this place; you call us to our places of employment. We ask that you would bless our labors and help us to bring Glory to You in whatever we do.
Lord we lift before you symbols of our trade. As we lift them to you help us to remember that they are tools for building your kingdom. For it is in Jesus’ name we pray.
