Work And Rest Series

John Ortberg tells an old story about a mother who walks in on her six-year-old son and finds him sobbing.

“What's the matter?” she asks.

”I've just figured out how to tie my shoes.”

“Well, honey, that's wonderful. You're growing up, but why are you crying?”

“Because,” he says, “now I'll have to do it every day for the rest of my life” (John Ortberg, Leadership, Vol. 14, no. 3; www. PreachingToday.com).

Sometimes, just the thought of tying your shoes every day can seem exhausting. The daily chores of life can wear you down. Your work can sap the joy out of life. But that’s not what God intended for your work. He designed it to be a fulfilling opportunity to glorify Him. He wants you to find joy in your labor.

So, how can you enjoy God-honoring, fulfilling work, no matter your profession? Well, if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Exodus 31, Exodus 31, where God invites skilled craftsmen to participate in building His tent, designed to bring Him glory.

Exodus 31:1-11 The LORD said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do” (ESV).

Notice, these men are not priests, not even from the priestly tribe of Levi. Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah, and Oholiab is from the tribe of Dan. You see, God wants to use skilled laborers, besides the priests, to bring Him glory in this world. That means you and you and you, no matter what your profession. God calls YOU to use your gifts and abilities to accomplish His glorious plan for this world.

Forty years ago (1984), Steve Bell began building cabinets in his garage. Those humble beginnings have grown over the decades into Bellmont Cabinet Co., an award-winning manufacturing company specializing in the minimalist “frameless” cabinet, of which Steve was one of the first pioneers.

But Steve has pioneered more than just cabinetry—he is redefining the workplace and what it means to be a working Christian. “Growing up, there was this sense that if you’re really called to faith, then you're going to go into ‘the real Christian work’ of full-time Christian service. Everything else was basically a compromise,” says Steve. His parents were disappointed that he didn't want to follow in his father's footsteps into pastoral ministry.

One day in college, he was reading RG LeTourneau's Mover of Men and Mountains. LeTourneau experienced success in his business, so he asked his pastor, “Do you think I should sell my business and become a missionary?”

The pastor said, “Bob, God needs businessmen as much as he needs pastors and teachers and missionaries.”

LeTourneau went on to become one of the great industrialists of the World War II era. Steve also realized that his desires for the business and manufacturing sector were a conviction from the Lord.

Steve said: “I think we've got generations of people growing up in the church who don't understand the importance of their work… God doesn't just love the cabinet maker; he loves good cabinets too. He actually loves the work that we do. I’ve got over 300 employees here that go out every day to make something that’s beautiful. And God loves beauty.”

Steve says, “This 200,000-square-foot facility with these 300 employees—this is my ministry… We want everybody that touches Bellmont to see Christ reflected in the way we do our business” (Brent Burdick, “Inside a Cabinet Maker’s Ministry,” Lausanne blog, Accessed 1/29/24; www.PreachingToday.com).

Whether you’re building tabernacles or tables, God wants your work to be a beautiful reflection of Christ. But in order for that you happen, you must…

WORK IN HIS POWER.