Have you ever felt like your work life and your spiritual life are completely separate? Like you have to shift gears between Sunday worship and Monday morning meetings? What if I told you that this gap isn't part of God's design? Today, let's explore how we can bridge that Sunday-to-Monday divide and see our work as a path to spiritual growth.
The Reality of Work
Let's be honest: work isn't always fulfilling. Sometimes it feels downright meaningless. The Bible doesn't shy away from this reality. In Ecclesiastes 2:17-18, we read:
"So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is meaningless, like chasing the wind. I came to hate all of my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned."
Have you ever felt like this? I know I have. But hang on, because there's hope.
A New Perspective on Work
Just a chapter later, in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, we see a dramatic shift:
"So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God."
This shift in perspective is key. What if we could see our work not as something separate from our spiritual lives, but as an integral part of it?
Work as Worship
In the beginning, work and worship were one and the same. In Hebrew, the word for work is the same as the word for worship. In Genesis 2:15, we read, "The Lord God took man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Adam and Eve's work was an act of worship because it contributed to what God was doing in the world.
The same can be true for us today. As Tim Keller beautifully puts it, "Work is rearranging the raw material of God's creation in such a way that it helps the world in general and people in particular thrive and flourish." When our work aligns with this purpose, it becomes an act of worship.
Jesus: The Ultimate Example
Jesus himself spent most of his life as a tekton - a craftsman or handyman. He wasn't just a carpenter, but someone who worked with his hands in various ways. Imagine Jesus showing up to fix your leaky faucet or repair your roof! His work wasn't glamorous, but it was meaningful because he understood that his work was worship. It was in setting the corners straight, and aligning the walls, and building the doors
that Jesus was loving his neighbors. It was in his integrity and honest work that Jesus
lived out his faith and the same can be true for you.
Bringing Faith to Work
So how do we bridge that Sunday-to-Monday gap? Here are some practical ways our church members integrate their faith and work:
1. Prayer before meetings: "Often before I go into a big meeting, I recite Psalm 23 to remind myself that the Lord is with me."
2. Setting intentions: "Daily I write down my intentions or words that I want to be known for to set my heart in the right posture."
3. Slowing down: "I pray each day to slow down and avoid being a hurried person. I want to go at a pace where I can still be a loving presence to the people I work with."
4. Recognizing God's purpose: "I know that my work contributes to God's larger purpose when I foster a ripple effect of love and care into the world."
Life Application: Your Work, Your Worship
Remember, wherever you find yourself day in and day out, that's the place God has called you to. It's your best opportunity to love God and love your neighbor. Here are some next steps:
1. Start your workday with prayer, asking God to guide you.
2. Look for opportunities to show kindness and integrity in your workplace.
3. Strive for excellence in your work as an act of worship.
4. Share your faith through your actions and, when appropriate, your words.
As you go about your week, remember that your work is not in the way of your spiritual growth. It is a path for it. Show up well, take pride in what you do, and let your work and worship become one, just as God intended.