Most of us work for someone and for something. We work for corporations, school districts, small businesses, hospitals or ourselves. Quite logically we work for money so that we can support ourselves and our families. Perfectly appropriate.
But there’s more.
Ultimately, we all work for God whether we know it or not.
Some don’t know it. The Pharaoh of Egypt was bringing glory to the Lord when he resisted and then relented to Moses’ demands to let God’s people go. God called Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon his “servant,” and he arranged for King Darius of Persia to allow the Israelites to rebuild their temple. These powerful leaders were hostile to God’s people, and yet they were working for God.
Paul is a little more explicit in The New Testament. Regardless of economic circumstances or status, we all serve God.
I did not always understand that.
My adult life began like everyone else’s, by finding a job and establishing a career. I pursued that happily for a number of years.
The birth of our third child was the tipping point at which I left the paid workforce to concentrate on being Mom, which I did contentedly for a number of years as well. When he entered first grade I asked myself how I would use the great gift of six hours of available time each day. Get a job? Read to my heart’s content? Find meaningful volunteer pursuits?
I found guidance in a passage of Scripture that set the course of my life from that day forward:
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-14
I realized that I want the work of my life, built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, to survive into eternity. I pray that it matters forever. Whether or not I have been successful to date I cannot say for certain, but it is my conscious intention to work for God.
We all do, whether we know it or not.
“Work” can be paid or volunteered, in the home or in a church or in the marketplace, highly skilled services or minimum wage labor. Valuable work is any work done in the service and to the glory of God. And it matters. He’s the Boss.
How do you view your work?
Connecting Dots...to God 
I love having Him for my Boss–mostly because He always works WITH me, doesn’t just assign me a task and leave for the golf course. The pay is satisfactory–He meets my needs; and the Performance Reviews are so much better than the ones handed out by earthly bosses–essentially, He loves me no matter how well or poorly I do the job, and His encouragement makes me eager to show up everyday. And I hear tell the retirement benefits are FAB!! God bless you, Judy! Love, sis Caddo
I enjoyed this post, Judy. As I may have mentioned before, I have a son who is 10 yrs old and is developmentally disabled as well as on the autism spectrum; he’s about 3-5 in mental age. He has always enjoyed dumping & filling containers: he never builds with his Lego, but just likes to dump & fill, dump & fill. (In fact he enjoys going to the dentist because there is a huge bin of Lego there which he dumps with a HUGE crashing sound & then carefully re-fills.) But lately he has discovered the joy of sorting. So he gets up, has his breakfast, then heads to the living room to find his Lego bucket. A little while later he gives me a huge, proud smile as he displays all these tiny Lego pieces, carefully grouped on the coffee table according to colour. “Red, blue, white, yellow, black, gray!” he says with great satisfaction. Somehow when I read your post I thought of him and realized he is doing his work to the glory of God: taking pleasure in order and beauty and inviting others to share in the enjoyment of what he has done. I’m sure God smiles at this — and I think my son’s work will pass the test!
What beautiful work your son accomplishes, Jeannie!
Oh yes, I agree Jeannie. I think God delights in your son’s joyful and satisfying work just like you do. The picture you paint reminds me of Eric Liddell’s well known words (assuming the movie Chariots of Fire quoted him accurately:), “…God made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure.” Thanks so much!
One of my very favourite quotes!!!!
Judy, when I read those verses I am reminded that ll kingdom work is significant, and that no one – including myself – should think less of something just because it’s done in a secular setting rather than a formal ministry. I also take heart that there will be no wailing among God’s people (no matter what Ravenhill preached and Howard taught) when we see Jesus face to face and learn what things we’ve done will last, because God never condemns his people (Romans 8:1) and with him there is no sorrow and no tears for anything. (Revelation 21:4.)
Now that’s good news, news that gives me joy in working in the kingdom of God!
Cheers,
Tim
Hi Tim, I think we’ll be surprised at what survives the “fire” and what does not. Our view of work and accomplishment and value is so skewed by our selfish and worldly perspectives that we literally cannot see straight. The only straight sight line is from my eyes to Jesus, only I tend to lose that focus. Thank you for your encouraging reminder that there really is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Have a great weekend! Judy
You’ve just blown my mind, Judy: I think we’ll be surprised at what survives the “fire” and what does not.
I tend to think that I have a good handle on what is eternally worthwhile. How foolish of me! Oh well, I’ve always known I can be quite a dope sometimes. 😉
Or, maybe you DO have a good handle on it, and it’s just me whose vision is skewed. Wouldn’t be the first time:)
Thank you, Judy. After reading this, I have a better view of my work than before. 🙂 I keep trying to find more work-work to do and He keeps pointing me back to the work He has given me to do. God bless you and all you are doing for / with Him!
All I know is that I’m gonna’ be a hot mess come review time with the main boss. I barely make it though review time at my paid job here on earth.
Haha. Sometimes I think that too, but then I remember the gracious, loving heart of God. His correction is always gentle. Whatever happens, he will always love us:). Thanks Rosy!
Great post!
“…How do you view your work?…”
As a young Christian, I heard Leonard Ravenhill preach on the Judgment Seat of Christ. His words were like arrows penetrating my heart. If I could have, I would have hidden in a closet, hoping to escape the fear of the Lord that night.
A few years after this, I read “The Judgment Seat of Christ” by Rick Howard. In the book, Howard tells his revelation of the Judgment Seat of Christ and how Christians wailed at the loss of their life’s works when Jesus lit them with fire. The wails sounded like the wicked screaming from Hell, but yet, the people were in heaven.
So, how do I view my work? I attempt to do it by looking through the lens of the Judgment Seat of Christ. My hope is to have a few pieces of gold, silver, costly jewels left over, after all of my wood, hay, and straw is burnt away.
I think your hope will be realized, Larry. You’re building well!