This past weekend I attended a Mens Retreat where the topic was to be, “Your Work Matters to God.” The speaker, a Bible teacher from California, told us that your work is an avocation not a vocation. Your vocation (your calling in life) is your relationship with God. In essence, this gentleman’s point of view is that your work is like a hobby — perhaps like golf. You can choose to play golf, or you could choose to play Scrabble, or you can choose to do nothing at all. It doesn’t matter, it’s a “pastime.”
Astonishing! but fairly common. I often hear this point of view from pastors and seminary teachers. They are convinced that the only work that matters is the work of the church, in particular the work that’s done inside the church building, more specifically the work done on Sunday. What you do the other six days of the week, is of little or no consequence, unless you make boatloads of money in which case they expect you to give it to the church to support the programs done inside the building.
According to the Bible, work is an opportunity and a privilege which leads to satisfaction and fulfillment. God gives us work as a blessing. Work is a blessing given to believers for two purposes: First, it’s where we can live out our missional call to the world. When Jesus calls us to be salt and light in a dark and needy world, the marketplace is the primary place most of us have opportunity to live out this call. Second, work is an important environment in which the Holy Spirit is able to grow each of us into all the person God designed us to be. It is here that we discover our best self.
What has your experience at work taught you about yourself, about how you are wired, and about what makes you unique?
As you have been in the workplace, have you ever discovered people with real needs brushing up against you? How does that affect you?
Yes, work is part of our sharing in the divine image. It’s a dimension of imitating Him — a fulfillment of who we are as His children (descendants). Work (productivity) can be a joy in and of itself. And work is our way of connecting with and caring for His creation–of being its stewards.