Finding Purpose and Joy in Every Work
Summary
In a recent sermon, I explored the profound significance of work from a biblical perspective, emphasizing that all work, when done to mirror and please God, is inherently valuable. I began by drawing parallels between various professions, from street sweepers to preachers, and how each contributes to the order and redemption of the world. I shared that Jesus himself was a carpenter and that our primary motive for work should be to reflect God's character, making Him our ultimate boss and audience.
Delving into First Thessalonians 4:9-12, I highlighted Paul's teachings to the young Thessalonian church, urging them to live lives marked by brotherly love, quietness, and diligent work. This was not a condemnation of unemployment but a warning against idleness. I encouraged the congregation to find rest in Jesus, which would lead to working diligently out of a place of soulful rest, rather than overworking or underworking.
I shared the contrasting stories of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrams from the movie "Chariots of Fire" to illustrate the importance of finding self-worth through work that aligns with God's calling. Liddell experienced joy and honored God's Sabbath, while Abrams pursued contentment without ever finding it. I reminded the congregation of the story of Mary and Martha, where Jesus commends Mary for choosing what is better—sitting at His feet rather than being consumed by work.
Reflecting on my own experience as a pastor, I discussed the importance of using one's gifts in their current job, even if it isn't the ideal fit. I emphasized that the ultimate purpose of employment is to serve God and those around us. I also addressed the common misconception that working for God restricts freedom, clarifying that living to please God is about finding joy in giving pleasure to Him, not about appeasing Him.
I concluded by discussing Paul's connection between love and work, explaining that working contributes to the common good and is an expression of love. I cited Dorothy Sayers' essay "Why Work," which laments the modern view of work as merely a means to make money or achieve status. I urged the church to rediscover the biblical doctrine of work, which sees work as a gracious expression of creative energy in the service of others.
Key Takeaways:
- All work, regardless of its nature, has dignity and is a calling from God. This is evident in the life of Jesus, who was a carpenter, and in the creation narrative where God is seen engaging in physical labor. By recognizing the value in all types of work, Christians can bring order and create value in the world, just as God intended. ([49:33])
- True rest is found in Jesus Christ, and from this rest flows the ability to work diligently. When our souls are at rest in Christ, we are freed from the extremes of overworking and underworking. This balance allows us to work hard for the right reasons, even when no one else is watching, because our ultimate accountability is to God. ([49:33])
- Work should not be an end in itself but a means to serve God and others. As demonstrated by the contrasting characters in "Chariots of Fire," finding joy and contentment in work comes from aligning with God's calling and honoring His design for rest and worship. Work becomes fulfilling when it is not about justifying our existence but about experiencing God's pleasure. ([49:33])
- The biblical doctrine of work challenges cultural norms and elevates the significance of all labor, including manual work. By working with our hands and engaging in tasks that benefit others, we express love and contribute to the common good. This perspective disrupts the societal hierarchy of jobs and affirms the worth of every vocation. ([49:33])
- Living to please God is fundamentally different from living to appease God. Pleasing God means finding joy in actions that bring Him delight, rather than performing work or moral deeds to earn salvation or self-satisfaction. This understanding is crucial for experiencing the grace of God in the gospel, which is the foundation of true virtue and goodness in our work. ([49:33])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (NIV)
> "Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three specific instructions Paul gives to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4:11?
2. According to the sermon, what was the primary reason Paul urged the Thessalonians to work diligently? [01:11]
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between working to please God and working to appease God? [27:09]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the value of different types of work, such as street sweeping and preaching? [23:40]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of leading a quiet life and minding one's own business in the context of brotherly love? How does this relate to the concept of work? [01:11]
2. How does the story of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrams from "Chariots of Fire" illustrate the sermon’s message about finding self-worth through work that aligns with God's calling? [32:16]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the societal view of work and how it contrasts with the biblical doctrine of work? [03:58]
4. How does the sermon explain the connection between rest in Jesus and the ability to work diligently? [31:06]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current job or daily tasks. How can you see them as a way to serve God and others, even if they don't seem significant? [23:40]
2. Think about a time when you felt either overworked or underworked. How can finding rest in Jesus help you achieve a better balance in your work life? [31:06]
3. How can you apply the principle of working to please God rather than to appease Him in your daily activities? What changes might this require in your attitude or approach to work? [27:09]
4. Identify a task or job you currently do that you find mundane. How can you reframe this task to see it as contributing to the common good and an expression of love? [09:28]
5. Consider your gifts and passions. Are you currently in a job that aligns with them? If not, what steps can you take to move towards work that fits your God-given abilities and serves others? [14:19]
6. How can you ensure that your work does not become an idol or a source of identity, but rather a means to glorify God and serve others? [18:11]
7. Reflect on the idea of "rested work" versus "restless work." What practical steps can you take this week to ensure your work arises from a place of rest in Christ? [31:06]
Devotional
Day 1: Dignity in Every Vocation
Work, in all its forms, is a divine calling and a reflection of God's creative nature. Whether one is a street sweeper or a CEO, each job has inherent value and contributes to the world's flourishing. This understanding elevates the significance of every profession, aligning with the biblical narrative that all work is meaningful when done for God's glory. [49:33]
Colossians 3:23-24 - "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."
Reflection: How can you approach your daily tasks, regardless of their nature, as acts of worship and service to God?
Day 2: Restful Work in Christ
True rest is found in Jesus, and from this place of spiritual tranquility, one can engage in work with diligence and purpose. This rest prevents the extremes of overworking and underworking, allowing for a balanced life that honors God. When work is done from a place of rest in Christ, it becomes an act of faith and a testament to the restorative power of the gospel. [49:33]
Hebrews 4:9-10 - "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."
Reflection: Are you currently experiencing the rest that comes from Jesus, and how does this influence your work ethic and life balance?
Day 3: Joy in God's Calling
Work aligned with God's calling leads to joy and fulfillment. It is not about achieving status or wealth but about finding contentment in doing what God has designed one to do. This perspective shifts the focus from self-justification to experiencing God's pleasure in our daily tasks, as seen in the lives of those who honor God's design for work and rest. [49:33]
1 Corinthians 7:17 - "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches."
Reflection: What aspects of your work can you identify as part of God's calling for you, and how can you find joy in them?
Day 4: Labor as Love
The biblical view of work is that it is an act of love, contributing to the common good and serving others. This challenges cultural norms that prioritize status and personal gain over service. By engaging in work that benefits others, we live out the command to love our neighbors and reflect God's love in tangible ways. [49:33]
1 Peter 4:10 - "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: How does your current job or daily activities serve others, and how can you more intentionally express love through your work?
Day 5: Pleasing God Through Work
Living to please God in our work is about finding joy in actions that delight Him, not about working to earn His favor. This understanding frees us from the burden of trying to appease God through our efforts and allows us to experience the grace of the gospel in our vocations. Work becomes an opportunity to express gratitude for God's goodness and to reflect His character to the world. [49:33]
Ephesians 6:6-7 - "Not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man."
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from appeasing God to pleasing Him in your daily work and personal endeavors?
Quotes
"To sweep the street or to preach a sermon is bringing order out of Chaos is taking the material world that God loves and made and making it orderly and making it livable and redeeming it and therefore to sweep the street and to preach a sermon are both valuable work" [23:40]
"Fundamentally you have got to work to please God... God becomes your boss, God becomes your Market segment, God becomes your audience, God becomes your supervisor" [25:20]
"The reason you'll work hard even when the boss isn't there is because you're not overworking in your soul. What kind of work do you have? Rested work or Restless work?" #!!33:59!!#
"Until you work not for your sake but for God's sake, the work will not fulfill you. That's the reason why Jesus says you have to Lose Yourself to find yourself. If you work for personal fulfillment, I tell you, work will either be too important to you or too unimportant to you." #!!30:28!!#
"To live to appease God is not the same thing as living to please God...living to please God means living for the sure pleasure of giving pleasure to God." #!!27:42!!#
"Paul goes out of his way to say work with your hands... just because you've lived in a culture that thinks that work is degrading and physical and manual labor is the most degrading, he says I don't want you to be shaped by the culture." #!!21:31!!#
"The Christian approach is that all work has dignity and all work has value... because Jesus was a carpenter and God dug ditches and therefore because God is a Creator and he loves to put his hands into the matter and create, a Christian knows that even if it means you're bringing order out of chaos by sweeping the streets in New York." #!!23:11!!#
"Work is the gracious expression of Creative Energy in the service of others." (#!!05:36!!#)
"The functional reason you should do any job is because it helps other people." (#!!07:51!!#)
"Paul says warn those who are idle now Paul's not condemning unemployment that's people who want jobs but can't find them he's he's condemning idleness which is people who have work but can't don't want it doesn't want don't want to do it in other words he's after people who are not working when they have a possibility of working." #!!01:47!!#
Chatbot
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