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The Rhythm of Working

We work in light of our gospel identity, learning to produce for the blessing of others rather than our own consumption.

God’s Word —His story—and our lives are filled with working. All of us have a job, whether we get paid for it at the moment or not. Children have the job of obeying their parents and going to school as students. Stay-at-home moms are working except when they’re sleeping. Men, women, husbands, and wives go to their job all but two or three weeks a year. A typical 8 to 5 Monday through Friday work week means that almost one out of four hours of a 168 hour week is spent “at work.” Every culture has work, whether it plays out the same way or not. God’s story begins with Him creating and ordaining work for us. Apart from the gospel, however, work is usually viewed as punishment, begrudged, and used as a means to a selfish end—to make money so that we can get away from work and get what we want to make our own lives “enjoyable.”

Working in Light of our Gospel Identities

Working a as worshipper changes everything. Work is a gift from our perfect Father whereby we get to join in His work, managing His creation for His glory—worship. What would it look like to collect payments, make sales calls, fix school lunches, write two-page papers, lead meetings . . . all as worship? Imagine being purposefully aware that your brain, your arms, your fingers, your skills, your resume experience, your car, your employment, your dorm room, and your textbooks were undeserved gifts from your Father so that you might participate in declaring His glory. Working as a learner changes everything. How did Jesus view work? Did He judge, value, and define people based on their work? How did He transform His followers’ views of work and “success?” How did He use people’s work experience as teaching opportunities (i.e., think about the many parables that tie into an agricultural society)? Why does He speak of “heaven” as an experience where we reign with Him, rather than saying heaven equates to an eternal “vacation?” How does Paul use Jesus’ “work” on our behalf as the foundation for worship, for salvation, and for how slaves/masters or employees/employers should relate to one another? Working as a missionary changes everything. What if we viewed work as God’s means of graciously providing for us financially so that we could ALL be full-time ministers of the gospel at our workplaces—full-time missionaries sent into the workplace to bring the gospel to bear? What if you viewed work as an opportunity to serve and bless others and your company (or fellow students, other moms, teachers) with the kind of undeserved love God in Christ has lavished on you? What about working around your neighborhood as a servant? Working as a family changes everything. How would it change the way you treat the “grumpy” office administrator if you viewed her like your mom? Imagine picking up the slack for others just like a family does. Imagine being on the lookout for loners or those struggling, and providing a place to “belong.” How much more would you care about the well-being of your company or classroom if it were a “family-run” business or school? How does a family divide out the chores, having everyone play a part?