Title: Watching, Witnessing, and Working

Date: 2009-09-06

Reference: I Thes. 4: 11-12

A wise person said to a graduating class: “Find something you love doing, and you will never work a day in your life.” King Solomon in the Old Testament said it this way: “To enjoy your work and to accept your lot in life is a gift from God. There is nothing better for a person than to enjoy his food, drink, and his job.” (Ecclesiastes)

We are more likely to enjoy our daily work when we have a vocation, something we are passionate about. I also know it sometimes takes a while before we find that something special we love. I’ve been very fortunate over the last 33 years to have a fulfilling, satisfying career in ministry. There were moments in those 3 decades when I was amazed the church was willing to pay me for something I loved this much. And there were those moments when I thought the church could not possibly pay me enough to continue. But for the most part it’s been wonderful, very enjoyable.

There were a few stops on the way, temporary jobs that put bread on the table as I pursued my education. The average American Worker today will have three or four careers, in different fields, before retiring.

The Bible tells us to honor Christ in whatever we are doing. We may be in our career, on the way toward achieving a career goal, changing careers, or resting from our labors in retirement. Wherever we find ourselves we are to be ambassadors for Christ in our daily lives. Paul said: “We try to live and work in such a way that no one will ever be offended or kept back from finding the Lord by the way we live, work, and act.

In everything we do we try to show we are true ministers of God. We are to give God the glory in all things. (2 Cor. 6:3)

I’ve been watching Pre Season Football Games this Fall. Many of the players are working very hard to make their teams. It’s always amazing to watch the reaction of a player after a spectacular play. Some will strut and pound their chests as to call attention to himself. Some others will point to heaven giving glory to God for his athletic ability that allowed him to make a great play. This last Thurs. Night the Broncos had a game. Immediately after the game the cameras caught a large number of players from both teams kneeling on the field praying to God. I thought this is a perfect example of giving God the glory at work.

In today’s lesson Paul wrote: “Try your best to live quietly, to mind your own business, and to work hard just as we taught you to do. Then you will be respected by people who are not followers of the Lord, and you won’t have to depend on anyone.”

I wonder how many faithful Christian People have won others to Christ simply by doing his or her very best at the work sight. And how many have been turned away from Christ by the poor behavior of his people on the work site?

I don’t know where we ever got the idea that we are doing our employers a favor by showing up for the job we are hired to do. If a person comes to work on Monday Morning with a poor attitude and a negative influence..If he or she takes every short cut possible and complains constantly he will not make the best worker. It’s especially tragic if this person professes to be a Christian and tells everyone else he was in church the day before. What we do, what we say should point to Christ.

The place where we work to earn our daily bread is also our primary place of ministry. We may not plan to be at the same job the rest of our lives. But so long as we are there we should be grateful for our job. Many people don’t have a place to work now days. Of all people, we should attempt to give a good days work for our pay.

Whatever we find ourselves doing this week wherever we end up..in the classroom, marketplace, hospital, shop, factory, farm, store, or business..our main task is to represent Christ as we earn our money to supply the needs of our families. In this way we win them to Christ.

In Africa, Wotodo employs dozens of persons in their ministry. Many of the crew members who come out to the work sites to help volunteers are not Christians. One of the expectations is that the local persons will become interested in the faith as a result of working alongside Christian Volunteers. It’s always been this way. The best way to interest another person in Christ is not to preach at him or her but to show them by example what a Christian life looks like.

The work Jesus came to earth to do was completed on the cross. Jesus’ work was redemptive work. At the end of his work Jesus said: “It is finished.” If Jesus was willing to die for you and me, should we not be willing to live for Jesus including our time at the work place?

Years ago, in Romania, a contractor was led to Christ and he joined the church through the example of his Christian Workers. He owned and operated one of the first private construction companies following the collapse of Communism. This man employed many workers.

Most routinely stole tools, came to work late, loafed on the job and left early. Many or most did just enough to get by, they had very bad attitudes at work. The few Christians he had working for him were trustworthy in every way. They would not steal a hammer or anything else belonging to the company. They worked hard and earned their pay. At first he was reluctant to hire Christians. He thought they were surely so heavenly minded they were no earthly good. After a while he encouraged them to bring anyone from the church who needed work. He would hire them on the spot. He learned Christians are much better workers. Again, through the faithful example of these Christian workers, this company owner came to faith in Christ.

You and I have a similar responsibility and opportunity. Where we find ourselves eight hours a day, six days a week is our place of ministry. Being with other people, working along side them allows us to show a genuine interest in them. Dale Carnegie used to say: “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people, that you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you.” Emerson said: “What you are, what you do speaks so loud, that I cannot hear what you say. The reward for a job done well is to have done it.”

I’m amazed at how much Paul had to say about work. He was a tent maker and prided himself on his financial independence. Wherever he went he lined up work for himself. This is how Paul met Priscilla and Aquila who were also tent makers.

Paul believed that pastors and religious leaders should be paid for their work, bless him. But Paul said: “As for me, I don’t want to own anyone anything..” So he supported himself. There was another reason.

Paul used his trade to meet people he would not come into contact with otherwise. Paul used these contacts to share Christ.

God intended us to work for several reasons. Work is how we support our families. When a person has done his best, has given his all, and in the process has supplied the needs of his family and society, that man has succeeded. We are to earn our living by the sweat of our brow we read in the Bible. No one else owes us anything. At the same time all of us need a little help from time to time. We work to earn money so we are in the position of investing in the lives of those who need our help.

We are fulfilled by our work. The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it but what they become by it. Doing a good job makes us feel good about ourselves and hopeful about the world around us.

God can and will use each and every gift offered back to Him. A ministry that translated and printed Bibles sought many persons to help. They were always hiring linguists, doctors, nurses, teachers, pilots, mechanics, printers, painters, artists, accountants, computer operators, cooks and bottle washers. So many skills were required to keep this ministry going. One recruiter said: “Virtually anyone but a bartender can be used by our ministry. And if the bartender gets converted, we’ll take a second look at him.” Paul said: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (I Cor. 10:31)

Many hundreds of years ago a monk named Brother Lawrence was assigned kitchen duty in his monastery. Rather than complain he decided to peal every potato and wash every pan to the glory of God. His wasn’t a popular assignment but it was his assignment and he decided to give it his all.

We may think our contribution is not so important, but every job done for Christ is important and could have eternal results. We should be very thankful for the gift of labor. Until Christ comes again we should watch, witness and work doing our small part. We may not be successful in the eyes of the world or popular with others. But if we work hard, do our part, and point to Christ we will receive our reward one-day.

As Vince Lombardi used to say: “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Paul would agree saying: “No matter what our chosen field, be excellent and point to Christ.