reTHINK

Misconceptions about God’s Design of Work

Conflict of Interest

You may hear… Be careful not to mix God with your work and work-life, because it will bring a conflict of interest, and interfere with your job responsibilities. If mixing God with work means, HE’s expecting me to do something apart from my work responsibilities like, evangelize, pray, even preach while on the job… Then yes, this could bring a conflict of interest between God and my work.

But, that’s actually the problem. When I think about God in my work-life as simply a matter of me doing something every so often, instead of being a Christian there all the time… then I will not understand clearly how God values my work and He is an active part of all that my work entails. Our work is not some unspiritual or sub-spiritual activity… because God gives intrinsic value to work. When Christians have a Biblical view of work they devote themselves to performing their work first and foremost unto God, this will be beneficial to their employer (Colossians 3:23). In following Christ example, they should show concern for the needs and interest of others… which can promote team building and collaboration among employees (Philippians 2:3-4). Also, let’s not forget… Christians were told to go the extra mile to be of help, and treat those who don’t like them with grace and respect. The list goes on…! Because of God in their work life, Christians can bring an added dimension to the work culture. One that will enhance their work and bring wholesome quality to the relationship of work. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)

Secular Work

The term secular work is often used to describe someone working a job/career in a company that is part of this world system, where company values are defined mostly by revenue and profit. But let’s not forget, all companies operate in hope to earn revenue and make profit, whether secular or not (James 4:13-15).

Some try to make a distinction with secular work by associating it more with company goals and leaders who operate with worldly value while ignoring God. But for the most part, work and working is not a secular activity, it is a human responsibility given to us by God (Genesis 1:27,28). God has not instructed us to find a job at a Christian company to somehow be more spiritual in our work. Though companies leaders and corporate structures maybe secular minded… most of the time the work done by the majority of employees is not. For Christians the company you work in provides you an opportunity to show how God’s Design of work affects their work-life, by bringing healthy attitudes and action that will enhance work (Titus 2:9-10). (The book of Daniel, gives insights on how Daniel’s faith operated and influenced a very secular work-culture in his day. Daniel 1:18-20)

Kingdom Work

Circulating is an idea among some Christians and church leaders that Kingdom work is somehow an exclusive work or calling done by a few people, while the work Christians regularly do “unto the Lord and for the Glory of God” in their job, is somehow of lesser value.

First, let’s consider how the kingdom is operating. At this time, Christ Kingdom is being built and broadcasted through the church… His people. (Colossians 1:9-10). There is not a special call or class that do a higher task. All believers in Christ are part of a royal priesthood through whom God is displaying His character in order to bring HIS Glory and Gospel to people in the world (1 Peter 2:9-12; Ephesian 6:15). Secondly, the Kingdom will someday be a literal one when Jesus returns to earth to rule and reign. But for now, He is reigning through the lives of His people, and even though their circumstances may not seem to be in their favor, Christ is giving a preview to the people of His kingdom through us (Hebrews 2:8, 17-18). With regard to assigning special value to Kingdom work compare to regular work… God has not given us a two level value system that gives one greater value than the other. God’s kingdom is being worked and promoted through His people in general, and not through a special class of people. (Ephesians 2:10)

Serving The Lord

For most of us, the term “serving the Lord” means a service we perform to the Lord in our churches or through a church programs or mission. However, the idea of service has a broader application than this in the Bible.

Jesus gives examples… when someone gives a cup of water in His name to someone in need (Matthew 10:42). Also, His example of being a servant by washing the disciple’s feet (John 13:1ff). But also, did you know that when you do your job whole-heartily unto the Lord this is a “service unto Christ.” as well as a service for your boss or company  (Ephesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:23-24). Next time you start your job, remember… when you perform the details of your company’s job unto the Lord you work is an act of “serving the Lord” and nothing less. And of course your company/business should benefit from your diligent work.

Work as Worship

Work as Worship… … is becoming a popular theme used to tie worship together with our work. Its basis comes from differing views in the interpretation of Genesis 2:15, where Hebrew terms  for “put” and “cultivate” could be translated in a couple different ways. Either, Adam was placed there to rest and worship God in his work, or Adam was placed there and given the responsibility to work and care for the garden.

There seems to be an unnecessary dual interpretation of work. The first portrays work before the Fall as good and holy and a worshipful. The second portrays work after the Fall, where its purpose and value was changed, and some seems to imply that worship it what gives value to work. But the value of work was already given by God. He was a worker and expressed His image and character through the works of His hand (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:19, 20) Humans were created as image bearers of God, which means work is part of our make-up. And though God placed a judgement on work because of sin, He did not change it value or purpose, or make it a curse. Instead He made conditions more difficult for humans to fulfill their work, which would serve as a reminder of our need for God in our work (Psalm 90:16-17). The Bible as a whole seem to make more of a distinction between work and worship then a similarity. They both have value because of God. Worship is about our becoming occupied with who God is, and how we honor Him. And work is our being occupied with a God given responsibility… and it is a way we serve and express God images in our work (Ephesian 6:5-7; Colossians 3:23). The purpose and value of work, came initially as a gift from God, not by some human achievement. We do not need to do some spiritual it in order to give work more value. It is spiritual already, because God has given work value and worth… Now we have an opportunity to show how God is transforming all areas of life, including our work, as we expresses His image and character through our work-life. Whatever you do… do all for the glory of God. (1Cor. 10:31)

The idea of work as worship does not seem to flow with the immediate context… where God is giving Adam responsibilities of work to fulfill, of which he did. It is hard to find other scriptures in the Bible to support the idea of work as worship. There seems to be an unnecessary dual interpretation of work. The first portrays work before the Fall as good and holy and a worshipful experience. The second portrays work after the Fall, where its purpose and value was changed, and some conclude that worship gives value to work. But the value of work was already given by God. He was a worker and expressed His image and character through the works of His hand (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:19, 20) Humans were created as image bearers of God, which means work is part of our make-up. And though God placed a judgement on work because of sin, He did not change it value or purpose, or make it a curse. Instead He made conditions more difficult for humans to fulfill their work, which would serve as a reminder of our need for God in our work (Psalm 90:16-17). The Bible as a whole seem to make more of a distinction between work and worship then a similarity. They both have value because of God. Worship is about our becoming occupied with who God is, and how we honor Him. And work is our being occupied with a God given responsibility… and it is a way we serve and express God images in our work (Ephesian 6:5-7; Colossians 3:23). The purpose and value of work, came initially as a gift from God, not by some human achievement. We do not need to somehow spiritualize it in order to give work more value. God has already given work value and worth… what we much see is that we have an opportunity to show how God’s value of work transforms how we perform our work.o

Work is a Calling

You may have heard someone say, that work is a calling. The word calling originated in the Middle Ages from the Latin for vocation. At that time vocation or calling, carried the idea of one being called out of the world to work a particular job.

This term was mostly used of people who did church work, they were considered to have a special calling in work. However, work itself is not a calling nor does it need some kind of special calling in order to fulfil God’s purposes. We may sense a calling to a particular kind of work, but this is not necessary nor does it somehow up the value of work. Work was given by God as a responsibility in the creation narrative, Genesis 1-3. God established a partnership with humans that carried an obligation for them to work, and exercise dominion by developing the resources of earth, that God provided and by multiplying and filling the earth (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:15). We are told to be responsible by working in order to provide what’s needed for our family to live, and to help others. (Ephesians 4:28; 2Thessalonians 3:10-12; Acts 20:35)