THE MINISTRY OF WORK

Work is  ministry

Many Christians  often feel  that  the only  way they  can  serve God  and the kingdom  is by  quitting  their jobs and  becoming  preachers or serving  at  a  church.  However,  God has not  called  everybody  to  become a full  time  preacher.  He has  not called  everybody to  sing  in  the choir or do something  at  church. In fact  the bulk  of ministry  goes  on outside  church. In  the market  place. That  is where the  Kingdom touches  people  on a  daily  basis. That  is  where  the real ministry  occurs. As you  work and earn money.

Don’t quit your job to  get  into the  ministry. Your  job is the  ministry for now.  Turn your job into  a ministry opportunity.  Use  your job to reach people  and to  minister to people. Furthermore,  you must realize  that  your  job is an opportunity  for you to  advance the gospel  and work for the kingdom.  Your  job  gives  you a  pay cheque  which  enables  you to  give  and support the work of  the ministry.  Working a  ‘secular’  job doesn’t  mean  you  are  not  doing  anything for  the kingdom.  If  you  are giving  you  are  doing  a lot  for the kingdom  of  God.  

2Corinthians9
10 Now may  He  who supplies seed to  the  sower, and bread for  food, supply  and  multiply the  seed you have sown  and increase the  fruits  of  your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched  in  everything for  all liberality, which causes  thanksgiving through  us to  God. 12 For the  administration of  this service  not  only supplies  the needs of  the saints,  but also is abounding through  many thanksgivings to  God

Work  is important. It  gives  us the opportunity  to  participate  in Gods purposes  and be  a blessing  to  the world by  reaching  our  workmates,  clients, employers  etc.  and also  by giving  and  supporting the gospel and the  ministry.

Work is  worship

Ephesians6
5  Servants, be  obedient to  them  that are  your  masters according  to the  flesh,  with  fear  and  trembling,  in singleness  of  your heart, as unto Christ;  

Basically Paul is speaking  of a master/servant  relationship. In our  context  this  is  the  relationship between an  employer and  an employee.   He is saying  that  you should give  your employer your  very  best  work.  Don't just  work hard when he is around  but do  your work as unto Christ. Remember  whatever good thing  we do, God will repay us.  

6 Not with  eyeservice,  as menpleasers;  but as  the  servants  of  Christ,  doing the will of  God  from the  heart;  

As good  stewards, we should serve our  employers  genuinely  from  the heart.  We should  not only do what's right  or expected  when  our  boss is watching,  but  we  should  do just  as  well when no one is watching.  We  should not  be menpleasers.   Those who have two  standards  or two  speeds of work (one  for when they  are  being watched and  one for other times), are liars  and thieves. They are  stealing  from  their employers  and intentionally giving  a false impression.

‘doing  the will of God from the  heart’

Paul refers to  serving your  employer as  ‘doing  the will  of God.’ This is an  amazing truth  that most Christians don’t  know or just  don’t believe.  Doing  a good job at  work and having  a  good attitude is also  the  will of God. It is  not only  preaching  and  witnessing that is God’s will.  It  is  not  only pastors and missionaries that  are fulfilling God’s  will. Working  hard  with  a good  attitude  is  God’s will and  you should  do  it  from the  heart.

7 With good  will doing service, as to  the Lord, and not  to  men:  

‘With  good will.’ We are to  serve our  employers with  good will.  With  a  good attitude.  Without  grumbling and complaining.  It  is  not enough  to  just  do  a good job.  The  attitude  with  which we  do it  is  important.  You must have a  good attitude about  it. God  didn’t  make any  exceptions  for this.  He  did not say  do this for kind,  understanding,  wonderful bosses  only.  He  said do  it. 
Even  if  your  boss  is a  jerk or an idiot  or an  insensitive  mean as  a snake kind of guy, do it.  

How  could  he expect  us  to  do this?

It  is  because  our attitude  and  happiness  is not  determined by  others.  Other  influence us  and present us with  opportunities  to be  happy or  sad  but  it  is our  choice  how we feel  and  how  we act. When we depend on  Jesus  for  happiness  and fulfillment, we can choose to serve others  with good will  and  be happy  regardless  of whether or not  they  deserve it.   Work as if Jesus is your boss and you are  not working for men  but for God.

8  Knowing that  whatsoever  good thing  any man  doeth, the same shall he  receive  of  the Lord, whether  he be bond  or free.

The  reason for our diligence  should  not  be  the  recognition of  man  but the  recognition  of God.  God rewards us for the  way we  serve others.  He looks at the  heart and  rewards us accordingly.  If  you understand this you will not  be  a  servant  to men.    You  will not  be  motivated by  the  fear of  your boss because  you  will know  that  God is  your  source,  and  your service  is  to Him.  He  is  the  one who  gives promotion;

Psalm75
5  Do  not lift  up your  horn on high; Do  not  speak with a stiff  neck.  6  For  exaltation comes  neither  from  the east Nor  from the  west  nor from  the south.7  But  God is the Judge:  He puts down one,  And  exalts another.

Work is part  of God’s  plan.  If you  will commit to it  He  will  get  you  work  to do  or  a job or a  business etc. When  you  work  you don’t  work for men but  for  God.  The  job or  business  is just  an avenue that God uses.
The job/ boss is not your source.  God is your  source.  He just  works through  them  to  supply  your need.
The steward works  with this  mindset. The  steward works  as unto  the Lord. After  all  God is always looking. Even  if  someone  may  be cheating  you and not  paying  you  what  is  due.  God  will make it  up  to  you. God will pay  you  if  you work for  Him diligently and with  a  good attitude.

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