Do-Nothings

If you believe the Bible to be true than you should know work was something that God created we see it established Genesis;

 

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Genesis 2:15 (ESV)

So from the beginning part of God’s plan was for man to work and take care of the creation that God made. I wonder how as a whole we are doing with that one. Now as we look at work with the understanding that God created it and calls us to it how should that impact our view of it?

First we need to adjust our thinking about our work. According to Paul in Ephesians we should approach our work in this manner:

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Ephesians 6:5-8 (ESV)

While we are not slaves per say some of us may feel like we are in our current jobs. In some ways we are; it’s not because we are physically chained to the job, but financial chains are no different. Most families work every day just to make ends meet trying to keep food on the table and provide for the basic necessities in life. We meet them every day in Wal-Mart or the restaurant you ate lunch in yesterday. They have no joy in their jobs but are doing what is required to make ends meet. Pray for them it’s the best thing we can do as the children of God. 

While we may see this every day in the outside world it may surprise you (not really) to know that it impacts the church as well. The church today has developed a problem that the only solution for it is to change how it approaches the idea of work and the issues of works.

 

First salvation is only found in one’s faith in Jesus Christ. The problem is we have spent so much time guarding that door and telling people that their works are not going to get them to heaven that we have filled our churches with do-nothings. You know what I am talking about if you have ever spent more than three Sundays in the same church. There are individuals who are in the sanctuary every time the doors are open. However, when you start talking about doing anything from working as an usher or greeter to teaching a Sunday school class or volunteering at the food bank they don’t have the time. Not to question the salvation of these individuals; however, my own experience with Christ tells me that when I accepted Him as Lord and master He had something for me to be doing.

 

Overtime I have learned that I can’t do everything; that is why God saves others to work with me to accomplish His goals. However, He did not save us just to sit on the pew waiting on the rapture. He has set before us a work just as He always intended as we saw in Genesis. Today I want to challenge you to apply the words of Paul to Titus in both your secular and church work: 

7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Titus 2:6-8 (ESV)

Today whatever you do; be sure to do it as if you were doing it unto Christ. There are individuals watching your every step just waiting for a chance to use you as an example of why Christians are fake. I challenge you today that whether it be inside the church, on your job or out in Wal-Mart; you let your words and deeds be a blessing to others as you walk in the light of God’s Word.