Work as Worship: Embracing Our Divine Purpose
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone! As we celebrate Labor Day weekend, it's a perfect time to reflect on the significance of work in our lives and how it intertwines with our faith. Labor Day originally started as a way to honor the hard work of American laborers, and today, we continue to celebrate the social and economic achievements they made possible. But beyond the historical context, let's consider how our work is a vital part of our spiritual journey.
We were designed for work by a Creator who Himself was a dedicated worker. Genesis tells us that God created man in His image, which includes being a worker. Even before the fall, Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it. This shows that work is not a curse but a divine intention. However, sin has distorted our experience of work, making it sometimes feel burdensome. Yet, work gives us purpose and is a form of worship to God.
The Hebrew word "avodah" encapsulates work, worship, and service, indicating that our labor is an offering to God. This means that our work should not be separated from our faith. Whether we are at a job, in school, or managing a home, we should do everything as if we are doing it for the Lord. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in Colossians, urging us to work with all our hearts as if serving the Lord, not human masters.
Our work is both vertical and horizontal. Vertically, it is an offering to God, and horizontally, it impacts those around us. By changing our mindset and working with purpose and integrity, we can transform our workplaces and schools into places of worship. This shift in perspective can lead to greater joy and a deeper sense of God's presence in our lives.
As we go about our daily tasks, let's remember that we are ultimately serving God. This Labor Day, let's commit to working with all our hearts, finding glory in the grind, and trusting that our reward in heaven will be great.
### Key Takeaways
1. Work as Divine Design: We were created in the image of a hardworking God, and work was part of His original design for us, even before the fall. This means that work is not a curse but a divine intention that gives us purpose and fulfillment. [02:56]
2. Work as Worship: The Hebrew word "avodah" means work, worship, and service, indicating that our labor is an offering to God. This perspective transforms mundane tasks into acts of worship, making our work a spiritual activity. [07:24]
3. Vertical and Horizontal Impact: Our work is both an offering to God (vertical) and a means to impact those around us (horizontal). By working with integrity and purpose, we can influence our environment positively and fulfill God's mission on earth. [08:55]
4. Shift in Mindset: The Apostle Paul urges us to work with all our hearts as if serving the Lord, not human masters. This shift in mindset can transform our attitude towards work, making it a joyful and fulfilling experience. [10:21]
5. Eternal Reward: Our ultimate reward is from the Lord, not from human recognition. Every unnoticed effort and overlooked task is seen by God, and He promises a reward in heaven for our faithful labor on earth. [17:01]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:33] - The Origin of Labor Day
[02:56] - God's Design for Work
[04:34] - Work Before and After the Fall
[05:54] - Purpose in Work
[07:24] - Work as Worship
[08:55] - Vertical and Horizontal Impact
[10:21] - Paul's Advice in Colossians
[12:17] - Personal Story: Working with All Your Heart
[15:11] - Serving God Through Work
[17:01] - Eternal Reward
[19:07] - Transformation Through Faith
[20:46] - Experiencing God's Presence
[22:06] - Working in Secular Jobs
[25:11] - The What-If Game
[27:07] - Challenge for the Week
[29:31] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 1:27 (NIV) - "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."
2. Genesis 2:15 (NIV) - "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."
3. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) - "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."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Genesis 1:27, in whose image were we created, and what does this imply about our nature as workers?
2. What task was Adam given in Genesis 2:15, and what does this indicate about the nature of work before the fall?
3. In Colossians 3:23-24, what attitude does Paul encourage us to have towards our work, and who are we ultimately serving through our labor?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding that we are created in the image of a hardworking God (Genesis 1:27) change our perspective on the work we do daily? [02:56]
2. What does the Hebrew word "avodah" teach us about the relationship between work, worship, and service? How can this understanding transform our daily tasks into acts of worship? [07:24]
3. How can the concept of work being both vertical (an offering to God) and horizontal (impacting those around us) influence the way we approach our jobs and responsibilities? [08:55]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current job or daily tasks. How can you shift your mindset to see these activities as acts of worship to God? What specific changes can you make to integrate this perspective into your daily routine? [10:21]
2. Think about a time when you felt your work was unnoticed or unappreciated. How does knowing that God sees and rewards your efforts change your attitude towards these tasks? [17:01]
3. Identify one area in your work or school where you can demonstrate greater integrity and purpose. What steps will you take this week to work with all your heart as if serving the Lord? [16:03]
4. How can you encourage others in your workplace or school to see their work as a form of worship? Share a practical way you can be a positive influence in your environment. [25:11]
5. If you struggle with people-pleasing, how can you shift your focus to pleasing Jesus in your work? What specific actions will you take to prioritize Jesus-pleasing over people-pleasing this week? [26:29]
6. Consider the balance between work and rest in your life. How can you ensure that you are honoring God by both working diligently and taking necessary rest? What changes might you need to make to achieve this balance? [04:34]
7. Commit to the challenge given in the sermon: for the next seven days, intentionally do everything with all your heart as if serving the Lord. How will you remind yourself of this commitment daily, and what do you hope to see change in your life as a result? [27:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Work as Divine Design
Description: We were created in the image of a hardworking God, and work was part of His original design for us, even before the fall. This means that work is not a curse but a divine intention that gives us purpose and fulfillment. Genesis tells us that God created man in His image, which includes being a worker. Even before the fall, Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to work and take care of it. This shows that work is not a curse but a divine intention. However, sin has distorted our experience of work, making it sometimes feel burdensome. Yet, work gives us purpose and is a form of worship to God. [02:56]
Ecclesiastes 3:13 (ESV): "Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."
Reflection: How can you view your daily work as a gift from God rather than a burden? What steps can you take today to align your work with God's original design for you?
Day 2: Work as Worship
Description: The Hebrew word "avodah" means work, worship, and service, indicating that our labor is an offering to God. This perspective transforms mundane tasks into acts of worship, making our work a spiritual activity. Whether we are at a job, in school, or managing a home, we should do everything as if we are doing it for the Lord. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in Colossians, urging us to work with all our hearts as if serving the Lord, not human masters. [07:24]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: What is one mundane task you do regularly that you can start viewing as an act of worship? How can you remind yourself to offer this task to God today?
Day 3: Vertical and Horizontal Impact
Description: Our work is both an offering to God (vertical) and a means to impact those around us (horizontal). By working with integrity and purpose, we can influence our environment positively and fulfill God's mission on earth. This dual impact means that our work is not just about personal fulfillment but also about serving others and glorifying God. By changing our mindset and working with purpose and integrity, we can transform our workplaces and schools into places of worship. [08:55]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: Think of one way your work can positively impact someone else today. How can you intentionally serve that person through your work?
Day 4: Shift in Mindset
Description: The Apostle Paul urges us to work with all our hearts as if serving the Lord, not human masters. This shift in mindset can transform our attitude towards work, making it a joyful and fulfilling experience. When we see our work as serving God, it changes how we approach our tasks and responsibilities. This perspective can lead to greater joy and a deeper sense of God's presence in our lives. [10:21]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "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: What is one task you usually dread? How can you change your mindset to see it as serving the Lord? What practical steps can you take to approach this task with a new attitude today?
Day 5: Eternal Reward
Description: Our ultimate reward is from the Lord, not from human recognition. Every unnoticed effort and overlooked task is seen by God, and He promises a reward in heaven for our faithful labor on earth. This assurance can motivate us to work diligently and faithfully, knowing that our efforts are not in vain. As we go about our daily tasks, let's remember that we are ultimately serving God. This Labor Day, let's commit to working with all our hearts, finding glory in the grind, and trusting that our reward in heaven will be great. [17:01]
Hebrews 6:10 (ESV): "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent effort or task that went unnoticed by others. How does knowing that God sees and rewards your work change your perspective? How can this motivate you to continue working faithfully?
Quotes
1. "So this Labor Day weekend, as you pick up the clock, you're going to have a little picnic. And as you swim and as you go to the festivals and spend time with your family, maybe you will take a moment to reflect upon your own life of work and the hard work that you have done to build a life for you and for your family and to provide for them. And, you know, being a provider is a very big task. You know, we have to provide for the ones that have been entrusted into our care." [02:10] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The temptation for all of us is to keep our work and our faith separate. But that's not what it's supposed to be. It's supposed to be God designed for it to be intricately meshed together, seamlessly put together, our work and, you know, our faith. And so that's what we're going to be talking about today. And so I don't know if you know this or not, but we were actually designed for work." [02:56] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We were designed to be hard workers with a rhythm of rest built into our daily lives. And now sometimes people will read Genesis or they're under this impression that work is actually a result of the fall or when sin was ushered into the world. They're like, oh, well, we have to work because Adam and Eve disobeyed. And that was part of the curse that God put. But that's actually not true." [04:34] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Our work that we do is a form of worship to God. Again, God's design was not simply that we would work, but his design was that our work would be a method and an expression of worship to him. It is an offering up of ourselves. Again, going back to look at Genesis 2 15, the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." [06:54] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Our worship is not just confined to an hour on Sunday morning, or in the morning, or in the evening, or in the evening, or in the evening, when we read our Bible, or when we're in the car listening to worship music. Our worship should be, it should encompass our entire day and work as a part of that. Do you know that if you have a job, that you will spend approximately 90,000 hours in your lifetime at your job?" [08:10] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Our work is both vertical and horizontal. It is vertical because we're offering up this time, we're offering up this activity from our heart, from our self to God, in worship to Him. And then it's horizontal because God will take that effort, and He will take the work that we're doing, and He will take our offering, and He will begin to change our attitude. He will change our heart, and then He will move it out to accomplish His mission here on earth." [09:45] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "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. Whatever you do, whatever activity you do, whatever job you have, do it with all of your heart." [10:21] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "See, our work is for God. And we might have to answer to the boss. We might have to answer to the coach. We might have to answer to the teacher. But ultimately, we answer to God. And knowing that we're going to answer to him is what drives our motivation. And that's the point that Paul is driving home here. He is saying whatever you do, whatever activity you do, you fill in the blank. Work at it with all of your heart, with purpose and with integrity." [15:11] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Our reward in heaven is independent of how the boss or the teacher or the coach treats us. So that means all those times that you went to work and you did those things that went unnoticed. It means that God noticed them. It means that all those times that you weren't recognized for the hard work that you put in. Or recognized for what a team player that you are. That God noticed and he recognizes it." [17:01] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When we enter into this relationship with Jesus and when we begin to experience that inner transformation of what He does, because that's what He does. He transforms us from the inside out. That is where the good works flow from. They come out of the abundance of transformation that is happening inside of us. Because the old is gone and the new is here. And God works out of that." [19:56] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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