That Works. Scriptures, Prayers, and Devotional Thoughts for Christians in the Workplace

Transcription

1 Faith That Works Scriptures, Prayers, and Devotional Thoughts for Christians in the Workplace Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 1

2 Faith That Works Scriptures, Prayers, and Devotional Thoughts for Christians in the Workplace Written by Jane L. Fryar Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 2 Colossians 3:17 3

3 The mission of CTA is to glorify God by providing purposeful products that lift up and encourage the body of Christ because we love him! Faith That Works Scriptures, Prayers, and Devotional Thoughts to Encourage Those Who Serve in Jesus Name Written by Jane L. Fryar Copyright 2016 CTA, Inc Larkin Williams Rd. Fenton, MO All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of CTA, Inc. Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ISBN: Printed in China Faith That Works Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 4

4 On the other hand, those who pour heart and soul into their work may find themselves stressed and even resentful at times. We may draw too much of our identity from our jobs. We may make our work an idol. We may neglect other key facets of life to focus on work. It s interesting that the Bible talks about work even before it talks about family. Work is one of the very first firsts in that Book of Firsts, Genesis: What do you do? When we meet someone for the first time, this is among the first questions we ask. Right after How do you do? comes What do you do? What Do You Do? In many ways, our work defines us. This is nothing new. Peter was known as the fisherman, Matthew as the tax collector, and our Lord Jesus himself was called the carpenter s son. Even so, many of us experience mixed feelings as we think about work. We may feel underappreciated. We may dislike our supervisor. One or more co-workers may drive us crazy. We may worry about the next layoff. We may simply find our tasks boring. The LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed....the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Genesis 2:8 15 Work was a central feature in Eden. Work and paradise are not mutually exclusive! Quite the opposite, in fact. From the beginning, our Creator intended our work to be a blessing, one of his good gifts to us! Even in our world today, marred though it is by sin, our Lord still intends to bless us in our work and others around us through our work. He gives us our abilities and helps us develop our skills. He encourages us: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:

5 To Think About Is work just something we do for pay? Or does it include other things? What things? In what ways is the work you do a blessing? What thorns and thistles sometimes cause you pain as you work? (See Genesis 3:17 19.) On a Mission from God 6 Reread Colossians 3:23 24 (page 5). What insights and encouragement do you draw from these words? What do you want to say to Jesus about that? You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

6 find ourselves becoming famous, wealthy, or powerful, we understand that our Savior intends us to use these blessings for the good of others. You, Child of God, have received from your Creator a unique mix of interests, talents, experiences, and abilities. You have a distinctive personality. You live at a specific time and in a specific place. All this, taken together, opens specific doors of opportunity to you: your work for pay; your family setting; and the needs around you in your church, community, nation, and world all come together to shape God s various callings on your life. What does God want me to do? Mirror, Imagine the wicked queen in the fairy tale Snow White chanting this question each morning: Mirror, on the Wall Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, What s the meaning of it all? If Snow White s foe were to ask that, she would not be the first. Even Christians who love their work sometimes wonder. What s the meaning of it all? How can we honor our Lord in every aspect of our lives our work included? How can we live lives of significance? It may be that the people around us define a life of significance as one focused on accumulating fame or wealth or power. For Christians, though, lives of significance are always lives of service. Even if we Often, in answer to that question, your Father in heaven will ask additional questions like these: What would you most like to do? What can you do with a glad heart, a servant heart? On the other hand, God s answer sometimes goes something like this: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10 So... go ahead. Counsel your son. Change the oil in the truck. Take the cat to the vet. Prepare the expense report. Prescribe the medicine your patient needs. Recycle the trash. Tighten the lug nut. Practice the solo. Write the devotion. Play checkers with the shut-in. Hit the gym. 8 9

7 And in it all... Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 To Think About 10 Have you ever thought of yourself as on a mission from God? You truly are, whether you recognize it or not! How does thinking about the work you do in your family, workplace, church, and community as a calling from your Creator change the value you place on it? If you have never developed a personal mission statement, consider doing so. How might having such a statement help you? How does the work you do for pay fit into your overall mission? What else could be included in such a statement? Reread 1 Peter 2:9 (see page 7). Is this verse intended only for full-time Christian workers (like pastors)? Or does it apply to all God s people? Why do you think so? How does all this impact you, especially in the workplace? Freed to Serve You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. Galatians 5:13 NRSV