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“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” - Colossians 3:23
T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness it’s Friday. Most American’s not only have their eyes set on the weekend, but tend to organize their entire life around these two days. I believe the pop rock hit of the eighties band Loverboy stated it best. “Everybody’s Working for the Weekend.”
However, there are many reasons to work; and the weekend is just one of them. Working for the… Money? Escape? Glory? Benefits? These are just a few reasons why people work. How about you? Why do you go to work?
Colossians 3:23 provides a different perspective. We are to work for the Lord.
But what does that mean? For some it is obvious. Pastors, Missionaries, and parish workers obviously “work for the Lord.” Even those involved in maintenance, bookkeeping, or other types of church work are apparently “working for the Lord.” It’s easy to see teaching Sunday Sschool, serving on a ministry team, or cleaning up the church grounds as “Holy Work” but Colossians 3:17 is even more all inclusive. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Everything we do in name of the Lord - “How do I Work for the Lord? What’s so sacred about my job as a salesman, farmer, clerk, machinist, teachers, factory worker - I’m in the secular field not the Sacred.”
Yet Christ transforms the Secular into the Sacred - He does not separate them. Christ not only purifies our soul, but our entire life! God desires us to see our entire life is set apart, as holy. So that in all we do, wherever we are, in thought, word & deed we’re engaged in service to Him.
Take Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). After spending time with Christ, he sees his sin, repents and begins living for and serving Christ. However Christ never called Him to leave and follow Him like Peter, John, or Matthew (who was also a tax collector). No. Instead he stayed in his current job as a tax collector and served Christ by treating people fairly and paying back anyone whom he had cheated. He was working for the Lord.
Christ doesn't call everybody out of their life, into full-time Christian Service! God didn’t call every Old Testament saint to be a prophet, Levite or priest. Christ didn’t call everyone to be an apostle, nor does he call everyone to be a Pastor, Missionary, or serve in church leadership. But he does call each of us to discipleship, to learn from Him, and serve Him wherever he has placed us. “Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him.” 1 Corinthians 7:17
God doesn't call everybody out of secular professions into Ministry, but rather He calls us out of a life of sin to the life of a saint. One whom loves, trusts, follows, and serves Christ within the job they have; conducting their daily business with the utmost integrity and sincerity.
We’re not always called to leave the Secular for the Sacred, but rather treat the Secular as if it is Sacred, doing your best unto the Lord - this is your Spiritual Act of Worship (Romans 12:1-2).
Labels: 1 Corinthians 7:17, Colossians 3:17, Colossians 3:23, Devotions, Discipleship, Holy Work, Jesus, Labor Day, Luke 19:1-10, Ministry, Pastor, Sacred, Secular, Vocation, Weekend, Work, Worship, Zacchaeus
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