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PROGRAM D-7723
Work as given by God can be fulfilling, rewarding, meaningful and pleasant. Right, you’re thinking, if you work for some Christian organization or church. No, that’s not what I mean.
In Genesis 1 and 2 we see the first work assignment given by God to Adam and Eve. He told them to be fruitful and increase in number. To fill the earth and subdue it. To rule over the creature world, and to name all the living creatures. Then he assigned Adam the job of taking care of the garden. That was Adam’s job description.
Notice that as originally intended, work was assigned by God and man obeyed. And it’s interesting to note that the first job description would be thought of by most Christians today as a “secular” job. But since God assigned it, it had to be sacred, right? The same is true today. The nature of the work we do does not determine if it is sacred or not. Work is sacred when it is assigned by God.
Now, I ask you to think of your own work situation, whether you’re in the workforce or working without a paycheck! Has your work been assigned to you by God? Are you confident that you are in the job God wants you to be in? God doesn’t ask us what we want to do. He assigns us work.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God is not here to make us feel fulfilled in the career or work that we choose. We are here to do the good work that he has prepared for us to do.
Maybe going to work is hard for you because you’re asking God to help you accomplish your plans and he’s waiting for you to give him the blank piece of paper and ask him to write the plan. You see, even when we get the job we think we want, or make the money we want to earn, if it is not God’s plan for our lives, we’re going to be miserable. Work is rewarding and fulfilling only when we are obediently doing the work God has assigned us to do.
How do I know what God wants me to do? you’re asking. You spend time with the Lord and his word, you put first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and I promise you, without fail, you’ll know whether God wants you where you are, or whether you’re supposed to be somewhere else.
When we have the job God intended for us to have, work is redeemed from the curse, it is sacred, we can do our work to God’s glory, and we can enjoy work as originally intended by our Creator.
