Work as Worship

Introduction

How many of us get excited about the weekend and hate to see Monday coming?

That is a result of the fall - the curse

Genesis 3:17–19 (ESV)

17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Work Sacred

Sharing my faith with my brother - He told me that faith was personal and I shouldn’t go around talking to people about it.

Explanation

Whatever you do in word or deed - This is an all-encompassing statement

This is not just on Sunday, but is throughout the week and includes your work life and your leisure time

We are to glorify God in our work

Occupation vs vocation - are we imprisoned or called?

Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus

This is not just doing what Jesus would do, or even what he would have us do

This is doing everything in your life in such a way that Christ is glorified/magnified through your action

Our work should be a reflection of the gospel that changed us - We are freed from sin to live in His righteousness

We should do our work filled with the fruit of the Spirit -

Application

There is no secular in a world created by God and for His glory

Our work is an opportunity to glorify God

Through creating Kingdom

Through the fruit of the Spirit

By bringing the Kingdom of God into the lives of others

By sharing our faith

By living out our faith in front of others

Work Sincere

Explanation

The admonition is for bond servants which would have been household servants and followed along with this message about the home, but there are some things that we can take from it and apply to our work life

The bond-servant is to obey and their earthly masters

in that context they would have no choice. They are in essence slaves

But in our modern context, we don’t have a lot of choice either - Mots of us have to work and are under the authority of our boss

We are to submit to their authority in an authentic way

Not by way of eye-service, as people pleasers - This is the idea of being double minded - doing something to act a certain way while your heart is not truly in it.

But with sincerity of heart

The word for sincerity literally means singleness - Your heart is not divided

It was not unusual to find a servant who worked hard when the master was around, but then would slack off when they were not around

Fearing the Lord - The work was to be done not as unto the master, but the Lord.

He was always watching

He was the one who approval we seek

We are to work “From the Heart” - As for the Lord and not for men

Application

Our sincere work is a reflection of our love and fear of the Lord

It is also a reflection of our theology and our faith

Do we really believe the Lord sees us when our bosses can’t?

Do we really see our work as an extension of our calling and purpose?

We are to work from a sincere heart that is devoted to God

Work Secure

Explanation

Knowing that from the Lord you will receive an inheritance

Reward - There is a reward for those who follow Christ -

Eternal life

Abundant life

The difference you make in other lives as you point them to Christ`

Privilege - You are serving the Lord Christ - The privilege of serving a loving master who would offer freedom - Spiritual in the present, but physical in death

Vindication - The wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done - The Lord will deal with those who mistreat us. We do not have to take vengeance for ourselves

Application

You have the security of knowing that no matter what you deal with at work, you can be faithful because God is faithful to you

We are to work as unto the Lord because ultimately He is in control

we are secure in the sovereignty of Christ over our circumstance and over the world

Conclusion

Maybe the greatest privilege comes on Monday, not Friday - It is the time when we can live out our faith before an unbelieving world and glorify Christ through our actions.

Challenge — find purpose in your work by seeking God’s glory in what you do

The redemption of work - from curse to glory