Co-working with God is at the core of who we are
Have you ever heard someone say that retirement is like a perpetual holiday?
Whenever someone says that, I immediately picture a Corona commercial set in a sunny beach destination. You know, that image of uninterrupted blue-sky; sun-kissed skin; drink of choice in hand as you spend endless days lounging around at rest. Sounds divine, right?! Don’t we all long for such a work-free lifestyle?
For me, that illusion was burst recently upon hearing a comment that there is only so much sitting around a person can do before they become restless in their restfulness. Tired of doing nothing? Can’t be true! But, after pausing to consider the reality of not working, it dawned on me that life without work would indeed become restless. It would become dull. Void. Frustrating. And lethargic for the soul.
That’s because in our design as humans – at our very core – is a NEED to work. As part of God’s created order, we were gifted with the joy and pleasure of working with and for God, stewarding the responsibility of taking care of the world in which we live (Genesis 2:15). He intentionally wired us in such a way that life is experienced more fully when we are engaged with work.
The word ‘work’ can have a negative connotation – that thing we survive Monday to Friday purely to earn a wage so we can ‘truly live’. But let’s reframe that. Work is better defined as ‘any activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.’ So then work includes the stay-home parent raising children, the volunteer at a charitable organisation, the church leader faithfully serving their community, or someone pursuing their professional career. And everything in-between!
At Worship.Works we are convinced that work is good. That a purpose-filled output is healthy for us humans. That contributing positively to our world is a God-given mandate. And we would take it one step further, as sons and daughters of God, to say that we express worship to our Creator when we work.
When we engage in work we honour God for what He has placed within us (our talents, gifts, skills etc) and we fulfil part of what it means to be created as humans.
We work firstly for God, which is why we hold Colossians 3:23 as our key verse:
‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters’ (NIV).
Our approach as an organisation is to encourage believers to consider themselves as ministers (servants) of God sent into a work environment to represent Him to colleagues and clients by living in a way that demonstrates His love and shines His light. The term we use for this is Workplace Ministry. Just as a minister in a church context would seek to be led by God’s Spirit to fulfil their role in serving their people, workplace ministers are taught to intentionally and prayerfully partner with the Spirit in the moment-by-moment experience of fulfilling their job roles and responsibilities. Through this process we become co-workers with God – achieving his plans and purposes through the work we do, in order to impact the world around us and establish His Kingdom on earth.
Worship.Works supports church congregations and Christian professionals by teaching these Biblical principles and sharing testimonies from workplace ministers that have seen God at work through them in their work context. Plans are coming together for a training workshop in Sheffield this March. If you would like to find out more or to speak with one of the team about how Worship.Works can support you or your organisation, please email mel@worship.works.
About the Author
Mel Lewis recently joined the team at Worship.Works, where her role as Engagement Manager includes supporting church leaders, workplace Christians and students to access resources for serving God through work. She also serves on the leadership team at a local church where she loves to equip Christians to understand the Bible and apply its truth to their daily lives.