No Small Occupation

The dwarfs used to go to work each day singing about the job they loved.  “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off work we go”...they loved to dig all day in the mines as they looked for diamonds.  Unfortunately for many of us, we too often go off to work cursing Adam that we must now work by the sweat of our brows.  Work is not part of the curse but toiling is.  God worked as an example to us.  We are made in his image and part of that is the joy of work.  It is important that we recognize the sovereignty of God in placing us right where we are today.  You are not at your job today, whether it be in the office, at home, working with your children, or outdoors, by accident.  You have been placed there by God to bring him glory and to provide for your needs.  In a sense, he has called you to that exact place.  It does not mean that you cannot seek other jobs, but for today, you are right where God has placed you.  You work where you are at today for the kingdom of God.  That means that there is no small occupation (thanks Martin Luther). Each job that is being accomplished right now, collecting garbage, changing diapers, negotiating deals, or selling something, is a job that God found important enough to place one of his children at.  He desires for his kingdom to be represented and advanced in that place today.

Paul gives some great encouragement in this area.  He writes in Ephesians 6:5-8, “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.”  You are not working for “the man” today but you are serving Christ in your work.  Christ is truly your boss and he desires for you to work sincerely and well.  What is so amazing is the promise he gives. “Whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord”.  Working hard, sincerely and well, results in blessings from God.  I cannot list those blessings.  Wouldn’t want to limit God.  But if God promises to bless, then he will.  Here or there.  Either way, we will be blessed.  Such a great motivation.  Nothing better than blessings from God.

I often wonder how bondservants heard these words.  I am sure they liked the words Paul gave to masters better.  These words must have been hard to hear.  Especially the idea of obeying with fear and trembling.  Their first reaction must have resulted in some raised some eyebrows.  Especially if they had bosses that were harsh and demanding.  Harder yet, if they had bosses that were incompetent. Maybe we should read those words a little different.  Maybe we should fear and tremble before our God who commands us to obey and work sincerely and well.  We do not want to incur the discipline of God by disobeying harsh and incompetent bosses.  After all, we do not really work for them but for Christ.  We must respect and honor Christ by doing well at all that we do.  We will receive the blessing of God then.  We also will not be bitter, angry, frustrated, and full of dread when we come to work.  

You are not simply where you are today by accident.  You are placed there by sovereign God who desires for you to make a difference in the kingdom of God.  What an honor.  Serve well.  Serve sincerely.  Do it not to please your boss but to please the one who placed you there.  He promises to bless you if you serve well.