Embracing Work: A Journey of Faith and Service
Summary
In the serene setting of a Montana camp, surrounded by the beauty of nature, we delve into the profound significance of our personal stories and the role of work in our lives. Each of us has a unique story, and while we may not always get the story we desire, our narratives are deeply intertwined with the work we do. Work, as defined by Dallas Willard, is the creation of value, and it is a central theme in the Bible, mentioned over 5,433 times. This highlights its importance in our lives, even more than prayer and love combined.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 reminds us that finding satisfaction in our labor is a gift from God. Our work, though toilsome, is an opportunity to create value and serve others. However, it also reveals the gaps between what we profess to believe and how we actually live. My own experience as an emergency room nurse illustrated this when I was more focused on my fatigue than on the needs of a patient who turned out to have a serious illness. This encounter was a humbling reminder of the importance of being present and serving others, even when it's inconvenient.
Brother Lawrence's practice of the presence of God offers a model for integrating faith into our work. By inviting God into our tasks, seeking His grace, and reflecting on our actions, we can find a deeper connection with Him. When we fall short, it's crucial to find our way back to God, recognizing that He is always waiting for us with open arms. This journey back to God is a vital spiritual practice, akin to leaving breadcrumbs to find our way home.
Ultimately, the invitation is to trust in God's goodness and love, to start each task with a prayer, and to offer our service to Him. When we succeed, we thank Him, and when we falter, we seek His forgiveness and begin anew. This is the essence of our story, a continuous journey of faith and work, intertwined with God's presence.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Significance of Work: Work is a central theme in the Bible, mentioned over 5,433 times, highlighting its importance in our lives. It is not just about what we bring to our work as Christians, but also about how our work reveals the gaps between our beliefs and actions. [03:01]
2. Finding Satisfaction in Toil: Ecclesiastes 5:18 teaches us that finding satisfaction in our labor is a gift from God. Despite the toilsome nature of work, it is an opportunity to create value and serve others, aligning our actions with our faith. [02:00]
3. Being Present in Service: My experience as a nurse reminded me of the importance of being present and serving others, even when it's inconvenient. Our work can reveal our self-centeredness and challenge us to focus on the needs of others. [06:15]
4. Practicing the Presence of God: Brother Lawrence's practice of inviting God into our tasks, seeking His grace, and reflecting on our actions offers a model for integrating faith into our work. This practice helps us maintain a connection with God throughout our daily activities. [07:14]
5. Finding Our Way Back to God: When we fall short, it's crucial to find our way back to God, recognizing that He is always waiting for us with open arms. This journey back to God is a vital spiritual practice, helping us trust in His goodness and love. [09:22]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:47] - Setting the Scene
[01:13] - The Importance of Our Stories
[01:29] - Defining Work as Creation of Value
[02:00] - Ecclesiastes and Satisfaction in Labor
[02:47] - Occupations in Scripture
[03:42] - Personal Story: The Nurse's Experience
[05:17] - The Unexpected Diagnosis
[06:15] - Lessons in Presence and Service
[06:44] - Brother Lawrence's Practice
[07:33] - Reflecting on Our Actions
[08:37] - Human Nature and Discouragement
[09:22] - Finding Our Way Back to God
[10:18] - Invitation to Trust and Serve
[10:49] - Community and Connection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ecclesiastes 5:18 - "This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for people to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot."
2. Colossians 3:23-24 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
3. Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ecclesiastes 5:18, what is considered a gift from God in relation to our work? How does this perspective influence our view of daily labor? [02:00]
2. In the sermon, how does the speaker describe the relationship between our personal stories and the work we do? [01:13]
3. What was the speaker's personal experience as a nurse that highlighted the importance of being present in service to others? [06:15]
4. How does Brother Lawrence's practice of the presence of God relate to integrating faith into our work? [07:14]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of work as the creation of value, as defined by Dallas Willard, challenge or affirm your current understanding of work? [01:29]
2. In what ways does the speaker suggest that our work can reveal gaps between our professed beliefs and our actual actions? [03:29]
3. How might Brother Lawrence's approach to inviting God into daily tasks change one's perspective on mundane or challenging work? [07:14]
4. What does the speaker mean by "finding our way back to God," and why is this considered a vital spiritual practice? [09:22]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current job or daily tasks. How can you find satisfaction in your labor, as Ecclesiastes 5:18 suggests, even when it feels toilsome? [02:00]
2. Think of a recent situation where you were more focused on your own needs than on serving others. How can you be more present and attentive to others in similar situations in the future? [06:15]
3. Consider a task you find challenging or mundane. How can you invite God into this task, seeking His grace and presence as Brother Lawrence did? [07:14]
4. Identify a moment when you felt distant from God due to your actions or thoughts. What steps can you take to "find your way back" to Him, as the speaker describes? [09:22]
5. How can you start each task with a prayer, offering your service to God, and what difference do you think this practice might make in your daily life? [10:18]
6. Reflect on a time when you succeeded in a task. How did you acknowledge God's role in that success, and how can you make gratitude a regular part of your work routine? [07:33]
7. When you falter or make mistakes in your work, how can you seek God's forgiveness and begin anew without falling into discouragement? [07:56]
Devotional
Day 1: The Divine Purpose of Work
Work is not merely a means to an end; it is a divine calling that reflects God's purpose for humanity. The Bible mentions work over 5,433 times, underscoring its significance in our lives. Work is defined as the creation of value, and it is through our labor that we can serve others and glorify God. However, work also reveals the discrepancies between our professed beliefs and our actions. It challenges us to align our daily tasks with our faith, ensuring that our work is not just about personal gain but about contributing to the greater good. [03:01]
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you transform your daily work into an act of worship and service to God today?
Day 2: Embracing Joy in Toil
Ecclesiastes 5:18 teaches that finding satisfaction in our labor is a gift from God. Despite the challenges and toil that work often brings, it is an opportunity to create value and serve others. This perspective encourages us to see our work as a means of aligning our actions with our faith. By embracing the joy that comes from fulfilling our God-given tasks, we can find deeper meaning and purpose in our daily endeavors. [02:00]
"Moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil." (Ecclesiastes 3:13, ESV)
Reflection: How can you find joy and satisfaction in your work today, even in tasks that seem mundane or challenging?
Day 3: The Call to Be Present
Being present in our work and service to others is a vital aspect of living out our faith. The experience of an emergency room nurse, who was reminded of the importance of focusing on the needs of others despite personal fatigue, illustrates this point. Our work can often reveal our self-centeredness, challenging us to shift our focus from ourselves to those we serve. By being present, we can better reflect God's love and compassion in our interactions with others. [06:15]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs your full attention and presence today, and how can you offer it to them?
Day 4: Integrating Faith into Work
Brother Lawrence's practice of inviting God into every task offers a model for integrating faith into our work. By seeking God's grace and reflecting on our actions, we can maintain a connection with Him throughout our daily activities. This practice helps us to see our work as an extension of our faith, allowing us to serve God in all that we do. It is a reminder that God is present in every aspect of our lives, and we can find Him in the ordinary moments of our day. [07:14]
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you invite God into your work today, and what difference might it make in your approach to your tasks?
Day 5: Returning to God
When we fall short in our work or spiritual journey, it is crucial to find our way back to God. He is always waiting for us with open arms, ready to offer forgiveness and guidance. This journey back to God is a vital spiritual practice, helping us to trust in His goodness and love. By acknowledging our shortcomings and seeking His presence, we can begin anew, confident in the knowledge that God is with us every step of the way. [09:22]
"Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 1:3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area where you feel distant from God, and how can you take a step towards returning to Him today?
Quotes
"Your story matters immensely um and but nobody gets the story that they want and the Deep part of all of our stories is work God made us to um create value Dallas will have used to Define work as the creation of value and we were talking with some younger people today and that question of what do you want to do with your lives they're both involved in coaching right now but it can be so overwhelming but also so exciting and of course it goes by so fast." [00:01:13]
"Ecclesiastes 58 where the author says this is what I have observed to be good that it is appropriate for people to eat to drink and to find satisfaction in their toysome labor Under the Sun during the few days of life God has given them for this is their lot so a big part of your story is you will have Labor Under the Sun that's kind of that word for um this level where we're not able to see the Transcendent World on the other side of the sun and it will be toilsome that's why they call work work but to find satisfaction in it that's a gift and that's a good thing." [00:02:00]
"Sometimes when we talk about faith in work and our stories it's really about what I as a Christ follower can bring to my work but there's also times in which paying attention to your story at work can in the kindest and gentlest of ways show you flaws in yourself where there's a gap between what you say you believe and what you really trust and are living out." [00:03:42]
"I've been a Christian long enough to know you s on the inside where nobody can see you so I said I'd be delighted to do that and inside I thought why me why me nobody else has been working double shifts nobody else is leaving in 3 weeks to do grad school in Chicago I'm tired I want to go home and again without even realizing it my focus was so much on myself and here I am in a service industry." [00:04:05]
"On the way home I feel like God whispered to me you're getting ready to go to Seminary you're going to be a pastor you're going to study Ministry and I put a woman in front of of you tonight and all you thought about was yourself and again when I'm home alone reading my Bible I can think I'm a pretty good person and when I pay attention to my story I realize that I can so easily get preoccupied with my own self and all God was asking me to do was to be present with somebody for maybe 45 minutes." [00:05:49]
"Brother Lawrence talks so much about word although I kind of didn't notice that before but he spent most of his life working in the kitchen and uh in one place he says his basic practice was um it's all the way around work task at the beginning of the task I would ask God for grace and say since you have this for me to do would you be with me while I'm doing it and uh help me to uh ask you for help and receive whatever it is that I can offer." [00:06:44]
"While I'm doing it uh I would uh talk to God in an intimate way you are my friend uh and then ask him for help when I had something that was kind of tricky to do and then after it was done I would look back on it and if I did anything right I would thank him because I knew that was just a gift and then when I didn't when I mess something up when I did it badly when I got frustrated when I was angry when I was preoccupied with myself this was what struck me I wouldn't get discouraged I would just remember on my own I'm capable of nothing better and I would ask God to forgive me and then immediately restart again okay God would you be with me now." [00:07:33]
"I think one of the most important spiritual let's call them practices if we have to call them anything at all is finding our way back to God yeah is that in that moment when I pay attention to my frustration or whatever my meanness my avoidance whatever it is and I finally come to realize oh I say I believe in this but I'm not living this out how do I find my path back to this core Center in me where it's it's me and God." [00:08:37]
"The practice the work of finding my way back to God I think is one of the most important things we can do in our spiritual life I just was thinking about um the old Fair tale hansing grel breads you got to leave breadcrumbs and then you're going to get lost but if there's breadcrumbs there you can follow those back to God on the bread of life and and then way more important than feeling like I get it right all the time which of course isn't true and doesn't make us feel closer to God it's every time I find my way back he's sitting there waiting for me so glad I'm back that transforms you." [00:09:22]
"The invitation today at the start of each task whenever you remember whenever you think about um God be my dear friend and I offer my service to you while you're doing it as you think about it talk with God afterwards just just look back on it thank him for what you got right and when you got something right instead of living in discouragement which is just no help um find your way back you get something wrong find your way back." [00:10:18]
"Everybody has a story and everybody's story matters and we want to know about your story whether it's a story of coming to Faith or a story of spiritual growth whatever it is we're here for you you can email that to us at connectcom new.com or you can text it to us you can also sign up for daily reminders whenever we drop a new video via text by texting the word become to the number there there's a team of us that meet to pray each weekday for viewers just like yourself." [00:10:49]
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