Created on Purpose for a Purpose

Colossians 3:23–24 NKJV

23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Created on Purpose for a Purpose

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED, “DOES WHAT I DO EVERY DAY REALLY MATTER?”

MAYBE YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR JOB IS ONLY A PAYCHECK, OR THAT YOUR ROLE IN LIFE IS SMALL COMPARED TO OTHERS.

MAYBE YOU’VE QUESTIONED WHETHER YOUR WORK— IN AN OFFICE, AT HOME, OR IN SCHOOL—HAS ANY ETERNAL VALUE…ANY REAL SIGNIFICANCE.

IF YOU’VE EVER THOUGHT THIS WAY, YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

BUT LET ME CHALLENGE YOU WITH THIS TRUTH: GOD HAS A DIVINE PURPOSE FOR YOUR WORK. NO MATTER HOW ORDINARY IT MAY SEEM, YOUR WORK MATTERS DEEPLY TO HIM.

IN COLOSSIANS 3:23-24, PAUL WRITES TO THE EARLY CHURCH:

“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.”

THIS SCRIPTURE PASSAGE IS NOT MERELY A CALL TO ACTION, BUT A CALL TO A CHANGE OF PERSPECTIVE.

IT IS A CALL TO SEE OUR DAILY WORK, NOT AS MUNDANE TASKS, BUT AS DIVINE ASSIGNMENTS.

IT IS A CALL TO SEE OUR UNIQUE GIFTS AND TALENTS, NOT AS SELF-SERVING TOOLS, BUT AS INSTRUMENTS FOR GOD'S GLORY.

YOUR MANAGER MAY BE MEAN….AND YOUR BOSS MAY GIVE YOU BELLYACHES…

BUT BE REMINDED SAINTS….

YOUR PROFESSIONS, ARE NOT JUST A JOB, BUT AS PLATFORMS FOR PURPOSE AND FOR THE PROCLAMATION OF GOD'S LOVE.

THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT EVERY PERSON IS CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD (GENESIS 1:27). YOU ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT. YOU ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP, UNIQUELY DESIGNED FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. PAUL REMINDS US IN EPHESIANS 2:10:

“FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFOREHAND, THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.”

AND THE PSALMIST SAYS IN PSALM 139:13-14; “FOR YOU CREATED MY INMOST BEING; YOU KNIT ME TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER’S WOMB. I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE; YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL, I KNOW THAT FULL WELL.”

THINK ABOUT THAT: BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN, GOD PREPARED WORK FOR YOU TO DO AS HE WAS CREATING YOU!

YOUR JOB, YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, YOUR DAILY TASKS—THEY ALL HAVE A DIVINE PURPOSE BECAUSE YOU ARE PURPOSED.

YOU ARE PART OF GOD’S BIGGER PLAN.

ILLUSTRATION:CONSIDER THE LIFE OF JOSEPH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. JOSEPH’S JOURNEY WAS ANYTHING BUT SMOOTH. HE WAS SOLD INTO SLAVERY, FALSELY ACCUSED, AND IMPRISONED.

YET THROUGH IT ALL, GOD HAD A PURPOSE FOR HIS WORK.

AS A SERVANT IN POTIPHAR’S HOUSE, JOSEPH WORKED DILIGENTLY.

AS A PRISONER, HE FAITHFULLY INTERPRETED DREAMS.

AND EVENTUALLY, JOSEPH’S WORK LED HIM TO BECOME SECOND-IN-COMMAND IN EGYPT, SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES DURING A FAMINE.

JOSEPH’S STORY REMINDS US THAT NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE, GOD CAN USE OUR WORK FOR HIS GLORY.

DIVINE CALLING IN DAILY WORK

IN THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF OUR DAILY LIVES, IT'S EASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE BIGGER PICTURE.

WE WAKE UP, GO TO WORK, COME HOME, AND REPEAT.

BUT WHAT IF THERE WAS MORE TO IT THAN THAT?

WHAT IF OUR DAILY WORK WAS NOT JUST A MEANS TO AN END, BUT A DIVINE ASSIGNMENT FROM GOD?

THE SCRIPTURE IN COLOSSIANS 3:23-24 GIVES US A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON OUR DAILY WORK.

IT TELLS US THAT WHATEVER WE DO, WE SHOULD DO IT WITH ALL OUR HEART, AS IF WE WERE WORKING FOR THE LORD.

THIS MEANS THAT OUR WORK IS NOT JUST ABOUT EARNING A PAYCHECK OR CLIMBING THE CORPORATE LADDER.

IT'S ABOUT SERVING GOD AND ADVANCING HIS KINGDOM.

THIS PERSPECTIVE CHANGES EVERYTHING.

IT MEANS THAT OUR WORK IS NOT MUNDANE OR MEANINGLESS.

IT'S SACRED AND SIGNIFICANT.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE DO, BUT HOW WE DO IT AND WHY WE DO IT.

IT'S ABOUT WORKING WITH INTEGRITY, EXCELLENCE, AND LOVE.

IT'S ABOUT REFLECTING GOD'S CHARACTER IN OUR WORK AND POINTING OTHERS TO HIM.

THE FIRST ASPECT OF THIS IDEA IS THAT OUR WORK IS A FORM OF WORSHIP.

WHEN WE WORK WITH ALL OUR HEART, AS IF WE WERE WORKING FOR THE LORD, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY WORSHIPPING GOD.

WE ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT HE IS THE SOURCE OF OUR SKILLS AND ABILITIES, AND WE ARE USING THEM TO HONOR HIM.

THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO BE IN A CERTAIN PROFESSION OR POSITION TO WORSHIP GOD.

WHETHER WE ARE A CEO OR A JANITOR, A TEACHER OR A STUDENT, A DOCTOR OR A STAY-AT-HOME PARENT, WE CAN WORSHIP GOD IN OUR WORK.

IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT WE DO, BUT HOW WE DO IT.

THE SECOND ASPECT IS THAT OUR WORK IS A PLATFORM FOR WITNESS.

WHEN WE WORK WITH INTEGRITY, EXCELLENCE, AND LOVE, WE ARE REFLECTING GOD'S CHARACTER TO THOSE AROUND US.

WE ARE SHOWING THEM WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.

THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO PREACH AT OUR COWORKERS OR CLIENTS.

IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT WE LIVE OUT OUR FAITH IN OUR WORK.

WE TREAT OTHERS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT.

WE DO OUR BEST, NOT TO IMPRESS OTHERS, BUT TO HONOR GOD.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE THAT CO-WORKER THAT GETS ON YOUR NERVES…AND YOU DON’T WANT TO WORK WITH THEM…

TRUTH BE TOLD YOU DON’T WANT TO BE NEAR THEM….

INSTEAD OF PRETENDING WHILE YOUR IN THEIR PRESENCE….YOU SHOULD PRAY FOR THEM

THE THIRD ASPECT IS THAT OUR WORK IS A MEANS OF STEWARDSHIP.

GOD HAS GIVEN EACH OF US UNIQUE SKILLS AND ABILITIES.

HE HAS PLACED US IN SPECIFIC PROFESSIONS AND POSITIONS.

AND HE EXPECTS US TO USE WHAT HE HAS GIVEN US FOR HIS GLORY AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF HIS KINGDOM.

THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE HAVE TO DONATE ALL OUR EARNINGS TO THE CHURCH OR QUIT OUR JOBS TO BECOME MISSIONARIES.

IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT WE USE OUR SKILLS AND ABILITIES, OUR TIME AND RESOURCES, OUR PROFESSIONS AND POSITIONS, TO SERVE GOD AND OTHERS.

THE FOURTH ASPECT IS THAT OUR WORK IS A SOURCE OF SATISFACTION.

WHEN WE SEE OUR WORK AS A DIVINE ASSIGNMENT, IT BECOMES MORE THAN JUST A JOB.

IT BECOMES A CALLING.

IT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT, SOMETHING THAT GIVES US PURPOSE AND FULFILLMENT.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS

THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WON'T FACE CHALLENGES OR DIFFICULTIES IN OUR WORK.

BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE CAN FIND JOY AND SATISFACTION IN OUR WORK, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DO, BUT BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE DOING IT FOR.

LET'S USE OUR WORK TO WORSHIP GOD, WITNESS TO OTHERS, STEWARD OUR RESOURCES, AND FIND SATISFACTION IN SERVING HIM.

DISTINCT GIFTS FOR GOD'S GLORY

AS WE CONTINUE TO REFLECT ON THE WISDOM OF COLOSSIANS 3:23-24, WE FIND OURSELVES DRAWN TO THE RECOGNITION OF OUR DISTINCT GIFTS.

THESE GIFTS, ARE A BLESSING GIVEN TO US BY OUR GOD,

THEY ARE NOT MEANT TO BE HIDDEN OR BUT TO BE USED FOR HIS GLORY.

THE FIRST ASPECT WE MUST CONSIDER IS THE INHERENT VALUE OF OUR GIFTS.

THEY ARE NOT RANDOM OR ACCIDENTAL; THEY ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED AND DIVINELY DISTRIBUTED.

IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS, WE SEE A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF THIS WHEN GOD CALLED BEZALEL AND OHOLIAB TO CONSTRUCT THE TABERNACLE.

THEY WERE EQUIPPED WITH WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE, AND ALL KINDS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP TO DESIGN ARTISTIC WORKS.

THEIR GIFTS WERE NOT FOR THEIR OWN FAME OR FORTUNE, BUT FOR THE CREATION OF A SACRED SPACE WHERE GOD'S PRESENCE COULD DWELL AMONG HIS PEOPLE.

SIMILARLY, OUR GIFTS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE USED FOR OUR OWN ADVANCEMENT, BUT FOR THE BUILDING UP OF GOD'S KINGDOM.

WHEN WE USE OUR GIFTS IN THIS WAY, WE ARE NOT JUST DOING A JOB, WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN GOD'S DIVINE WORK.

THE SECOND ASPECT WE MUST CONSIDER IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR GIFTS.

THEY ARE NOT GIVEN TO US FOR OUR OWN PLEASURE OR PRESTIGE, BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS AND THE GLORY OF GOD.

IN ROMANS…. BROTHER PAUL REMINDS US THAT WE ARE ALL PART OF ONE BODY, AND EACH OF US HAS DIFFERENT GIFTS. JUST AS EACH PART OF THE BODY HAS A SPECIFIC FUNCTION, EACH OF OUR GIFTS HAS A SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

WHEN WE USE OUR GIFTS TO SERVE OTHERS, WE ARE NOT JUST DOING A GOOD DEED, WE ARE FULFILLING OUR DIVINE PURPOSE.

IN THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, JESUS TEACHES US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP.

THE SERVANTS WHO USED THEIR TALENTS WISELY WERE COMMENDED AND REWARDED, WHILE THE SERVANT WHO HID HIS TALENT WAS REBUKED AND PUNISHED.

PAUL’S WORDS IN COLOSSIANS 3:23 ARE CLEAR: “WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK HEARTILY, AS FOR THE LORD AND NOT FOR MEN.”

THIS MEANS THAT OUR WORK IS NOT ULTIMATELY FOR A PAYCHECK, A PROMOTION, OR HUMAN RECOGNITION.

OUR WORK IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP TO GOD… WE ARE A LIVING SACRIFICE AS PAUL WRITES TO THE ROMAN CHURCH IN ROMANS 12:1. EVERYTHING WE DO, EVERYDAY WE LIVE, AND EVERYWHERE WE GO… IT’S ALL FOR HIS GLORY AND GOOD.

IN MATTHEW 5:16, JESUS SAYS, "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN."

WE MUST CONSIDER THE REWARD OF USING OUR GIFTS FOR GOD'S GLORY.

OUR GIFTS ARE NOT MEANT TO EARN US EARTHLY REWARDS OR HUMAN RECOGNITION, BUT HEAVENLY REWARDS AND DIVINE APPROVAL.

JESUS TELLS US TO STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DO NOT DESTROY, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL.

OUR DISTINCT GIFTS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT WE DO, BUT ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHOSE WE ARE.

THEY ARE NOT JUST ABOUT OUR WORK, BUT ABOUT OUR WORSHIP.

THEY ARE NOT JUST ABOUT OUR PROFESSION, BUT ABOUT OUR PURPOSE.

AND THEY ARE NOT JUST ABOUT OUR CAREER, BUT ABOUT OUR CALLING.

DEDICATION TO PURPOSE IN PROFESSION

WHEN WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO OUR PROFESSIONS, WE ARE NOT JUST FULFILLING OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS, WE ARE HONORING GOD.

IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS, WE SEE THAT WORK WAS A PART OF GOD'S PERFECT DESIGN FOR HUMANITY.

ADAM WAS GIVEN THE TASK OF WORKING AND TAKING CARE OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN. THIS WAS NOT A PUNISHMENT, BUT A PRIVILEGE. WORK WAS A PART OF HUMANITY'S PURPOSE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

ILLUSTRATION:CONSIDER THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS HIMSELF. FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE, JESUS WORKED AS A CARPENTER. HE LIKELY BUILT TABLES, CHAIRS, AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS.

YET THIS WORK WAS NOT SEPARATE FROM HIS MISSION; IT WAS PART OF HIS OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER.

JESUS’ LIFE SHOWS US THAT ALL WORK, WHEN DONE WITH THE RIGHT HEART, CAN GLORIFY GOD… OR PUT ANOTHER WAY, IF ORDINARY WORK WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR JESUS, THEN IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU AND I AS WELL.

IN THE SAME WAY, OUR WORK IS A PART OF OUR PURPOSE. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT EARNING A PAYCHECK, BUT ABOUT CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY, SERVING OTHERS, AND GLORIFYING GOD.

WHEN WE VIEW OUR WORK IN THIS LIGHT, IT BECOMES A FORM OF WORSHIP. WE ARE NOT JUST WORKING FOR OUR BOSSES OR OUR CLIENTS, WE ARE WORKING FOR THE LORD.

WHEN WE DEDICATE OURSELVES TO PURPOSE IN OUR PROFESSIONS, WE ARE PARTICIPATING IN GOD'S WORK.

WE ARE HELPING TO SUSTAIN THE WORLD, TO BRING ABOUT JUSTICE, TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDY, TO CREATE BEAUTY, TO DISCOVER TRUTH, AND TO TEACH OTHERS.

OUR WORK HAS A RIPPLE EFFECT. IT IMPACTS OUR COLLEAGUES, OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR COMMUNITIES, AND EVEN FUTURE GENERATIONS.

OUR PROFESSIONS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT THE HERE AND NOW, BUT ABOUT ETERNITY. THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58, "THEREFORE, MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, STAND FIRM. LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN." OUR WORK FOR THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN. IT HAS ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE.

SO, BELOVED, LET'S DEDICATE OURSELVES TO PURPOSE IN OUR PROFESSIONS. LET'S VIEW OUR WORK AS A FORM OF WORSHIP. LET'S RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK. LET'S ALLOW OUR WORK TO TRANSFORM US. AND LET'S REMEMBER THE ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR WORK. LET'S GIVE OURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD, KNOWING THAT OUR LABOR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN.

CONCLUSION

AS WE’VE SEEN TODAY, YOUR WORK MATTERS TO GOD AND YOU WERE CREATED ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE.

YOUR WORK IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP THAT GLORIFIES GOD. AND THERE ARE NO UNIMPORTANT JOBS OR ROLES IN HIS KINGDOM.

SO, AS YOU HEAD INTO THE WEEK, I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU WITH THIS:

COMMIT YOUR WORK TO THE LORD. PRAY OVER IT.

ASK GOD TO USE IT FOR HIS GLORY. AND REMEMBER THE PROMISE IN PROVERBS 16:3: “COMMIT YOUR WORK TO THE LORD, AND YOUR PLANS WILL BE ESTABLISHED.”

I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS THOUGHT: GOD HAS PLACED YOU WHERE YOU ARE FOR A REASON.

HE'S GIVEN YOU THE SKILLS, THE TALENTS, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU HAVE FOR A PURPOSE.

AND THAT PURPOSE IS GREATER THAN ANY PAYCHECK, ANY PROMOTION, OR ANY HUMAN RECOGNITION.

IT'S A DIVINE PURPOSE, A CALLING TO SERVE AND GLORIFY HIM IN ALL THAT YOU DO.

SO, AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR WORK THIS WEEK, REMEMBER WHO YOU'RE REALLY WORKING FOR.

REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE NOT JUST SERVING YOUR BOSS, YOUR CLIENTS, OR YOUR CUSTOMERS.

YOU'RE SERVING THE LORD. AND HE SEES YOU.

HE SEES YOUR EFFORTS, YOUR STRUGGLES, YOUR VICTORIES. AND HE IS PLEASED WITH YOU.

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LET'S PRAY.

DEAR GOD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNENDING LOVE FOR US. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE GIVEN US TO DO AND THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU'VE PLACED BEFORE US.

HELP US TO SEE OUR WORK AS A WAY TO SERVE AND GLORIFY YOU. GIVE US THE STRENGTH, THE WISDOM, AND THE COURAGE TO CARRY OUT OUR TASKS WITH INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE. AND AS WE DO, MAY WE SHINE YOUR LIGHT FOR ALL TO SEE. WE LOVE YOU, LORD. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.

AND NOW, AS WE PART WAYS, MAY THE LOVE OF GOD SURROUND YOU, THE PEACE OF GOD PROTECT YOU, AND THE JOY OF GOD FILL YOU. GO IN HIS GRACE AND SERVE HIM WITH GLADNESS. AMEN.