HEARTILY AS UNTO THE LORD
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
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C O L O S S I A N S 3 : 2 3
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the LORD, and not unto men.
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God did not only command His people to keep the Sabbath day holy by NOT working, He commanded His people to keep every other day holy BY working. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work." Exodus 20:8,9.
Christians see the workplace as one of the best places to shine the light of Gospel and to example Christian virtue. After all, the average worker in America will invest over 100,000 hours of their lifetimes in the workplace. What an opportunity to witness for Christ.
Sure God has called some to be missionaries, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, but He has also called His people to be "salt" and "light" in every sphere of life. Even work assignments that are not inside the Church are to be carried out with energy and completed, "as unto the Lord."
The Apostle Paul told Titus to encourage Christians servants to "be obedient," "to please their masters well in all things," "to not be smart-mouthed and talk back," to "not steal from the workplace," and to "show good faith," so that the doctrine of God our Savior would prove attractive to those who were watching. (Titus 2:9,10) If that was God's requirement of servant who were unjustly treated by their masters, what must He require of those who are well treated by their employers?
Martin Luther understood this when he wrote, "The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the man who prays--not because she may sing a Christian hymn while she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship."
Princeton Ethicist Max Stackhouse believes that we have ceased to link our work to God's work in the world. How tragic, and how unscriptural that is.
In Ecclesiastes we read, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might." (Ecclesiastes 9:10). The Wisdom of Proverbs declares, "In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty." (Proverbs 14:23).
The Apostle Paul urges Christians to "do your own business and work with your own hands." (1 Thessalonians 4:11). He says, "If a man will not work, neither should he eat." (1 Thessalonians 3:10). As God's Workmanship we are created in Christ Jesus to do "good works!"--that must include doing our best job, everywhere, every time. (Ephesians 2:10).
After all, Peter says, when the critics of Christ see our good works, they will finally glorify God. (1 Peter 2:12).
So as Christians we are on the job not for our glory, but for Christ's glory! We are doing our best not to advance ourselves, but to advance the Kingdom of Christ.
It turns out that there is actually one person for whom we are working today. SIMPLY JESUS!
Christians see the workplace as one of the best places to shine the light of Gospel and to example Christian virtue. After all, the average worker in America will invest over 100,000 hours of their lifetimes in the workplace. What an opportunity to witness for Christ.
Sure God has called some to be missionaries, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, but He has also called His people to be "salt" and "light" in every sphere of life. Even work assignments that are not inside the Church are to be carried out with energy and completed, "as unto the Lord."
The Apostle Paul told Titus to encourage Christians servants to "be obedient," "to please their masters well in all things," "to not be smart-mouthed and talk back," to "not steal from the workplace," and to "show good faith," so that the doctrine of God our Savior would prove attractive to those who were watching. (Titus 2:9,10) If that was God's requirement of servant who were unjustly treated by their masters, what must He require of those who are well treated by their employers?
Martin Luther understood this when he wrote, "The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the man who prays--not because she may sing a Christian hymn while she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship."
Princeton Ethicist Max Stackhouse believes that we have ceased to link our work to God's work in the world. How tragic, and how unscriptural that is.
In Ecclesiastes we read, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might." (Ecclesiastes 9:10). The Wisdom of Proverbs declares, "In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty." (Proverbs 14:23).
The Apostle Paul urges Christians to "do your own business and work with your own hands." (1 Thessalonians 4:11). He says, "If a man will not work, neither should he eat." (1 Thessalonians 3:10). As God's Workmanship we are created in Christ Jesus to do "good works!"--that must include doing our best job, everywhere, every time. (Ephesians 2:10).
After all, Peter says, when the critics of Christ see our good works, they will finally glorify God. (1 Peter 2:12).
So as Christians we are on the job not for our glory, but for Christ's glory! We are doing our best not to advance ourselves, but to advance the Kingdom of Christ.
It turns out that there is actually one person for whom we are working today. SIMPLY JESUS!
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