Work, death, and taxes are the only three certainties in life...oh yeah and God

Alright, last time we evaluated the mandate of work from God himself. We were able to determine that the concept of labor issues forth from the essence of God. Also, God was kind enough to give us a clear word about work. He tells us to subdue the earth and have dominion over the creation. It is obvious, at least to me, that that ain't gonna happen if I sit on my couch and play playstation all day.

Ok, so work comes from God. As I said before, this should revolutionize our attitude, but if this isn't enough incentive for you, I have more. There are at least to passages in Scripture that touch on our attitude toward work. Why do I feel like it is necessary to explain this? Well, some people might say something like this: "Fine, work is from God. I get it. I will work, but I don't have to like it." There is a problem here though. If you hate your job or work, then are you going to be concerned with putting maximum effort into it? Probably not. You might be asking yourself, why does it matter whether or not I desire to give my best? I'm glad you asked. Let us look to the Scripture.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24

That passage alone should be enough, but here another one just in case it isn't.

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Think about those two passages for a minute. To be honest, it blows my mind. If we work with all our effort, we not only please God the Father. We also please the Lord Christ. Two parts of the Trinity are pleased by our labor. And, to top it off, we know that when the Son is glorified, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. If this is true, then it seems to me that the Holy Spirit would also be pleased by our work. Folks, the triune God of the universe finds joy in our labor if we do it as unto Him.

Both passages should be put into context. In the first one, Paul is delineating what it means to put on the new self. He tells us that we need to keep our minds on "things that are above." He writes in the hinge verses of this chapter, "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." (Colossians 3:9-10) From this point on in the third chapter of Colossians, Paul illustrates how the new self should effect our lives. It changes our desires from evil to the fruit of the Spirit. It changes us from selfish to selfless persons, which is reflected in our marriages and our parenting. More relevant to our discussion, it revolutionizes the way we see work. Why? Because it is a part of our renewal into the image of our creator. Wow, that is some heavy stuff. As new selves, we will desire more and more this renewal, and our attitude toward work is just one way to affect that renewal. It is simply another way in which the new self manifests itself. It is the overflow from the renewal taking place in us.

In the second verse, Paul is discussing Christian liberty. He is questioning the merits of certain activities. In typical Pauline fashion, he is exhorting us to put others first and to show humility. While this verse doesn't directly speak to the issue of work, Paul is kind enough to add a short phrase on the end of his exhortation. When he writes, "or whatever you do," he means exactly that. This verse is one of those verses that can be applied in almost any situation. So, why not work? Based on this verse, it is not wrong to say that when you work hard you glorify God. I appreciate Paul's honesty at the beginning of the next chapter in 1 Corinthians, which is a sort of capping off of chapter ten. He says, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."

Why do you think that Paul ends with this statement? I think I know. It is because Christ did the ultimate work, and He did it joyfully. Listen to the words of Paul.

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. " - Philippians 2:4-11

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:1-2

If Christ could see his work with joyfulness and as glorifying to the Father, then it is simply not too much to ask us to do the same.