Friday, February 15, 2013

THREE WAYS YOU ARE HONORING GOD THROUGH YOUR WORK

This is the third in a series of short posts on work and why it is essential to our physical, mental and spiritual well being.

In the last post in this series titled “THREE BIBLICAL EXAMPLES THAT EXPLAIN MAN’S BASIC NEED AND DESIRE TO WORK” we established that man works to Feed, Clothe and Shelter himself. If you missed the post you can read it at http://salvationisagift.blogspot.com/2013/01/three-biblical-examples-that-explain.html.

Man's work is actually about much more than simply obtaining food, clothing and shelter.  God actually expects that we work to honor Him.  Here are three reasons we know this to be true.

God Is Honored When We Take Full Advantage of the Gifts He Has Blessed Us With

There are few greater tragedies in life than the squandering of great gifts (talents).  God grants us specific gifts so that we can work and be productive in our lives.  The Apostle Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:10 "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace".  This is a clear admonition to use the gifts God has provided us with.  Romans Chapter 12 verses 6-8 are even more specific about the different types of gifts we receive and how we are supposed to use them as it reads "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."  Each of us must examine ourselves to understand how God has gifted us and then we must use those gifts in our work so that we can glorfiy God through our accomplishments whether they be in the secular or spritual areas of our lives.

God Is Honored When We Work To Provide For Our Families and For Those In Need

Scripture is pretty clear that God expects us to work if we are physically able. In II Thessalonians Paul's directive is pretty blunt. In Chapter 3 Verse 10 it is written "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat". In Proverbs 28:19 scripture says "Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty."  Work is not necessarily synonymous with employment.  We don't have to be employed by someone else in order to work.  We can work by farming our own land, maintaining our households or simply serving others.  The key thing to remember is that we are expected to work if we are able to work so that we provide for our ourselves, our families and others in need.  Working to help others in need is actually commanded in Ephesians 4:28 which says "...[one] must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need".  God expects us to work so that we provide for our own needs as well as the needs of others.


God Is Honored When We Work To Our Hightest Potential

From Sportspectrum.com
God doesn't expect us to work just enough to get by. He expects us to give it our all.  Colossians 3:17 says "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." God wants your work to be exemplary.  He knows your workplace is a mission field.  God knows that the eyes that look out from the darkness will see you if you are His light. How you conduct yourself at work can bring either great glory or dishonor to God. Matthew 5:16 says "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven".  By giving work your all and being a living witness as you work you are glorifying God.  We should always remember that all of our work should be done as if we were doing it directly for God.

The next time you wonder exactly what you are working for take heart that you know THREE WAYS YOU ARE HONORING GOD THROUGH YOUR WORK.