SUNDAY SCHOOL DOING THE FATHER'S WORK?
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OR WORKing FOR THE LORD OR HOW ELSE WOULD WE THIS TITLE?
OR WORKing FOR THE LORD OR HOW ELSE WOULD WE THIS TITLE?
LET'S MAKE THIS LIFE APPLICABLE
LET'S MAKE THIS LIFE APPLICABLE
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DO OR WORK OF THE LORD? OR WORKING FOR THE LORD…?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DO OR WORK OF THE LORD? OR WORKING FOR THE LORD…?
JESUS SAYS IN LUKE 2:41-52 HE STATED WHAT IT MEANT TO HIM AT A YOUNG AGE. “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
JESUS SAYS IN LUKE 2:41-52 HE STATED WHAT IT MEANT TO HIM AT A YOUNG AGE. “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Ways to Work as for the Lord Colossians 3:23 tells us to “work as for the Lord”. But, what exactly does that mean? Let’s explore some ways we can put this into practice, according to the Scriptures.
Ways to Work as for the Lord Colossians 3:23 tells us to “work as for the Lord”. But, what exactly does that mean? Let’s explore some ways we can put this into practice, according to the Scriptures.
A guy goes in for a job interview and sits down with the boss.
The boss asks him, “What do you think is your worst quality?”
The man says “I’m probably too honest.”
The boss says, “That’s not a bad thing, I think being honest is a good quality.”
The man replies, “I don’t care about what you think!” work, work… I believe in modern society, we are plenty good at working! In fact, some of us might even call ourselves “workaholics”.
A guy goes in for a job interview and sits down with the boss.
The boss asks him, “What do you think is your worst quality?”
The man says “I’m probably too honest.”
The boss says, “That’s not a bad thing, I think being honest is a good quality.”
The man replies, “I don’t care about what you think!” work, work… I believe in modern society, we are plenty good at working! In fact, some of us might even call ourselves “workaholics”.
We derive so much of our identity from our careers, or raising kids, or whatever the case may be. And it becomes all too easy to chase after THAT OLD DOLLAR BILL, A BIGGER HOUSE, FASTER NICER CAR, FINE CLOTHING, reputation, and other such things… or perhaps we simply work to live up to others PEOPLES’ expectations?
We derive so much of our identity from our careers, or raising kids, or whatever the case may be. And it becomes all too easy to chase after THAT OLD DOLLAR BILL, A BIGGER HOUSE, FASTER NICER CAR, FINE CLOTHING, reputation, and other such things… or perhaps we simply work to live up to others PEOPLES’ expectations?
But, the Bible tells us that as Christians, we are to work for a different reason… FOR THE LORD! My favorite work for the Lord verse in the Bible, is Colossians 3:23
But, the Bible tells us that as Christians, we are to work for a different reason… FOR THE LORD! My favorite work for the Lord verse in the Bible, is Colossians 3:23
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WORK AS FOR THE LORD? TO PUT IT IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS, WORKING FOR THE LORD IS ABOUT HONORING GOD. TO WORK AS FOR THE LORD IS TO WORK ACCORDING TO HIS VALUES (CHIEF AMONG THEM IS LOVE…!) IF HE IS OUR TOP BOSS, THEN I SHOULD WANT TO WORK IN A WAY THAT PLEASES HIM. Does that make sense?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WORK AS FOR THE LORD? TO PUT IT IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS, WORKING FOR THE LORD IS ABOUT HONORING GOD. TO WORK AS FOR THE LORD IS TO WORK ACCORDING TO HIS VALUES (CHIEF AMONG THEM IS LOVE…!) IF HE IS OUR TOP BOSS, THEN I SHOULD WANT TO WORK IN A WAY THAT PLEASES HIM. Does that make sense?
things like honesty, diligence, Integrity, and quality become WAY more important in terms of the work we do! Everything we do can work for the glory of God (translation: make God look good, which can in turn bring others to want to know Him!) Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.
things like honesty, diligence, Integrity, and quality become WAY more important in terms of the work we do! Everything we do can work for the glory of God (translation: make God look good, which can in turn bring others to want to know Him!) Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.
Think about it this way: If you do good work, it makes you look good, but it also reflects well on your supervisor. And if do poor work as an employee? Well, that might give the impression that your supervisor didn’t train you well, or didn’t communicate company expectations very well, didn’t provide you with the time or resources you needed to get the job done, etc. sometimes it’s purely the employee’s fault…
Think about it this way: If you do good work, it makes you look good, but it also reflects well on your supervisor. And if do poor work as an employee? Well, that might give the impression that your supervisor didn’t train you well, or didn’t communicate company expectations very well, didn’t provide you with the time or resources you needed to get the job done, etc. sometimes it’s purely the employee’s fault…
Ways to Work as for the Lord
Ways to Work as for the Lord
Now that we’ve established what it means to work as for the Lord, HOW do we actually go about doing that? What does it look like in real, everyday life? Like an employee relying on your manager to train you well for the job, you need to rely on God’s teaching. So, let’s explore that and see what the Bible says about how to work as for the Lord…
Now that we’ve established what it means to work as for the Lord, HOW do we actually go about doing that? What does it look like in real, everyday life? Like an employee relying on your manager to train you well for the job, you need to rely on God’s teaching. So, let’s explore that and see what the Bible says about how to work as for the Lord…
1) Commit your work to God, and depend on Him
1) Commit your work to God, and depend on Him
Now, let’s get something straight here: You probably already know that none of this will be easy. You’ve probably, like me, experienced days where you feel crummy, you really want to cut corners, or maybe even do lousy work on purpose just because your manager is driving you bonkers (been there, done that).
Now, let’s get something straight here: You probably already know that none of this will be easy. You’ve probably, like me, experienced days where you feel crummy, you really want to cut corners, or maybe even do lousy work on purpose just because your manager is driving you bonkers (been there, done that).
But, God! Part of how God wants us to work, is by depending on Him for help. He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and He alone directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9). So, the FIRST and foremost way we can work as for the Lord, is to simply commit our work to Him, and depend on Him throughout the process!
But, God! Part of how God wants us to work, is by depending on Him for help. He knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and He alone directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9). So, the FIRST and foremost way we can work as for the Lord, is to simply commit our work to Him, and depend on Him throughout the process!
But now, you might be asking “How do I dedicate work to God?”. Great question! Simply by
praying continually, entrusting your plans to Him, and seeking His guidance (and actually listening and being obedient), you can commit your endeavors to Him as Psalm 37:5 says.
But now, you might be asking “How do I dedicate work to God?”. Great question! Simply by
praying continually, entrusting your plans to Him, and seeking His guidance (and actually listening and being obedient), you can commit your endeavors to Him as Psalm 37:5 says.
2) Work with love 3) Work with joy/cheerfully4) Work peacefully
2) Work with love 3) Work with joy/cheerfully4) Work peacefully
Work with loveThese next three ways to work as for the Lord, are inspired by the first three fruits of the
Spirit, starting with LOVE: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) And of course, it should go without saying, that LOVE is a major way we can do everything as if working for the Lord. Love leads us to be kind to our co-workers, be patient with customers, and generally do right by everyone. Even just producing a quality product and giving great customer service, because you know it will make your customers’ life that much easier, is an act of love.
Work with loveThese next three ways to work as for the Lord, are inspired by the first three fruits of the
Spirit, starting with LOVE: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) And of course, it should go without saying, that LOVE is a major way we can do everything as if working for the Lord. Love leads us to be kind to our co-workers, be patient with customers, and generally do right by everyone. Even just producing a quality product and giving great customer service, because you know it will make your customers’ life that much easier, is an act of love.
The second fruit of the Spirit, joy, is also a great way to work as though you are working for the Lord! When we work cheerfully, without complaining, we give glory to God and spread love and light to those around us.
The second fruit of the Spirit, joy, is also a great way to work as though you are working for the Lord! When we work cheerfully, without complaining, we give glory to God and spread love and light to those around us.
A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)
A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
Yes, I know, easier said than done (speaking from experience here!). It’s not easy to be cheerful on a bad day, or with a person who tries your patience, but that’s why we need to pray continually and lean on God for strength. Even just repeating a memorized Scripture verse like Psalm 118:24 above, can be a great help when you need that reminder to work joyfully!
Yes, I know, easier said than done (speaking from experience here!). It’s not easy to be cheerful on a bad day, or with a person who tries your patience, but that’s why we need to pray continually and lean on God for strength. Even just repeating a memorized Scripture verse like Psalm 118:24 above, can be a great help when you need that reminder to work joyfully!
4) Work peacefully Moving onto the third fruit of the Spirit, which is PEACE! What a blessed (and sometimes rare) thing it is, to be a peacemaker in the workplace. Whatever we do, we should strive to maintain cordial and agreeable relationships with managers, coworkers, or just our own families. Being a peaceful person—slow to anger, quick to listen—is a great way to work for the glory of God.
4) Work peacefully Moving onto the third fruit of the Spirit, which is PEACE! What a blessed (and sometimes rare) thing it is, to be a peacemaker in the workplace. Whatever we do, we should strive to maintain cordial and agreeable relationships with managers, coworkers, or just our own families. Being a peaceful person—slow to anger, quick to listen—is a great way to work for the glory of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9 (NIV)
5) Work diligently, with perseveranceHave you ever thought about HOW you do your work? Like, do you work diligently, and not constantly goof off (you know, checking Facebook, etc.)? And do you persevere through difficulties, rather than giving up as soon as things get hard? Displaying diligence and perseverance like this is a wonderful way to work as for the Lord. After all, how inspiring is it to see someone else doing these things? I don’t know about you, but I find it encouraging and inspiring, and seeing them work with diligence makes me want to do that too. Not to mention, it tells me this person is making an effort to contribute, and that they care about the work they do.
5) Work diligently, with perseveranceHave you ever thought about HOW you do your work? Like, do you work diligently, and not constantly goof off (you know, checking Facebook, etc.)? And do you persevere through difficulties, rather than giving up as soon as things get hard? Displaying diligence and perseverance like this is a wonderful way to work as for the Lord. After all, how inspiring is it to see someone else doing these things? I don’t know about you, but I find it encouraging and inspiring, and seeing them work with diligence makes me want to do that too. Not to mention, it tells me this person is making an effort to contribute, and that they care about the work they do.
6) Work with integrity Dictionary.com defines integrity as “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty”. So then, the question is, what does the Bible say about doing honest work? These verses explain why honesty is so important to work as for the Lord… Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)
6) Work with integrity Dictionary.com defines integrity as “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty”. So then, the question is, what does the Bible say about doing honest work? These verses explain why honesty is so important to work as for the Lord… Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:25 (NIV)
7) Share your faith And lastly, to work for the glory of God, it’s important to share our faith whenever opportunities arise! This doesn’t mean shoving it down someone’s throat, or making them feel uncomfortable. It just means being authentic, and stating where our hope comes from. I don’t know about you, but when I was a new believer, I mistakenly thought that “sharing” my faith was to “convert” or “convince” someone to become a Christian. But, I now realize that it’s not our job to convince or convict (leave that part to the Holy Spirit!)… but it IS our job to SHARE. And in sharing, caring, and modeling Christian faith to others, hopefully they will want to know more about Jesus!
7) Share your faith And lastly, to work for the glory of God, it’s important to share our faith whenever opportunities arise! This doesn’t mean shoving it down someone’s throat, or making them feel uncomfortable. It just means being authentic, and stating where our hope comes from. I don’t know about you, but when I was a new believer, I mistakenly thought that “sharing” my faith was to “convert” or “convince” someone to become a Christian. But, I now realize that it’s not our job to convince or convict (leave that part to the Holy Spirit!)… but it IS our job to SHARE. And in sharing, caring, and modeling Christian faith to others, hopefully they will want to know more about Jesus!
So, in summary, to work as for the Lord is really all about pleasing God and bringing Him glory! And, at the end of the day, it also goes a long way towards inviting others to know and experience Christ for themselves.
So, in summary, to work as for the Lord is really all about pleasing God and bringing Him glory! And, at the end of the day, it also goes a long way towards inviting others to know and experience Christ for themselves.
Like everything in Christian growth, learning to “work as for the Lord” is a work in progress! Each new day brings new opportunities to commit your plans, activities, and goals to God, and to work for His glory and for the good of others. I certainly don’t have it all figured out, but I’m committed to getting better, and I hope you are too!
Like everything in Christian growth, learning to “work as for the Lord” is a work in progress! Each new day brings new opportunities to commit your plans, activities, and goals to God, and to work for His glory and for the good of others. I certainly don’t have it all figured out, but I’m committed to getting better, and I hope you are too!
