I pray that you had a restful and refreshing Labor Day weekend. For many of us, this signals the end of summer; students are back in school, football is back as well as your favorite fall coffee. Labor Day historically marks the beginning of fair wages, working conditions, and hours being set into motion. You were not made to work seven days a week, you must take time to rest your body and brain. Moreover, God calls us to a Sabbath, six days of work and one day of rest.
Every day is a day of worship, and all we do is an act of worship when our motivation is directed to and through God. As a follower of Jesus, we essentially worship God when we work. Any time that you are using the abilities that God has given you and your focus is on being the person He created you to be, you worship. You worship when you view your workplace as an opportunity to live out His commands in the character that glorifies God. You worship with obedience when you refuse to compromise your Biblical values and give your best without needing constant credit or confirmation. You worship when you acknowledge people who, like you, are made in the image of God and see them through God’s heart with Kingdom value.
Jesus modeled the lifestyle that pleases and glorifies the Father. Every day, wherever Jesus went, He prayed, cared, and shared the Kingdom message with the people in His path. Whether on the shore, in a boat, walking through a town or sitting by a well, Jesus made people feel cared for, healed them, or met a need and then talked with them about God and His Kingdom. The places we live, work, learn and play are all places to live out our faith and to love people with the love of Jesus. A fruitful life is not about a salary, but about serving. It is your purpose, not a position; an inheritance in Christ, not the income.
This month I want to encourage you to add 'Business/Workplace' to your prayers. There are many faith-at-work resources, some of my favorite are the iwork4Him radio show and podcasts, Transformational Leadership with Ford Taylor, and Today God is First (TGIF) devotionals with Os Hillman. Check them out online for encouragement for your workday and prayer prompts throughout your day.
Your workday is filled with blessings if you go into work looking for them. No matter where you work, no matter what your title, God looks at your heart and is blessed by your attitude, affection, appreciation, and actions. Do everything unto the Lord!
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24 NAS