Workplace or Worship Space

Work as Worship

When I say “work,” what goes through your mind? I don't care if you're a homemaker, a pastor, a poet, or a rockstar. I don't care if you work in the realm of technology or real estate. It doesn't matter if you're a surgeon, a nurse, or a teacher. Whatever you do, you’re involved in human labor.

Work Is a Gift From God

Here's one thing I want you to understand about human labor: work is a gift from God. Work is a gift, a present from God. It is a way to worship Him.

Think about back in the Garden of Eden. God gave Adam and Eve the gift of work. Do you know what God said? “Take care of my garden.” They were to work.

God Modeled Work for Us

So work was given to man and woman before the fall of man—fall, meaning to fall into sin. We don't understand how deep work is and how much it’s a gift from God, but it is. God worked, and we're made in God's image:

• Genesis 1:1 says, “God created.” That's work.
• Genesis 1:2, “…the spirit of God was hovering….”
• Genesis 1:3, “God separated….”
• Genesis 1:8, “God called….”
• Genesis 1:16, “God made….”
• Genesis 1:31, “God saw all that He had made and it was very good.”

You Don’t Have to Work—You Get to Work

Work is God-given. God's a working God and we're made in His image, and that sense of accomplishment is good. If we don't work, we're not going to have dignity. We're not going to have the self-respect that God wants us to have. It's a God thing.

Get To Know Your CEO

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do….” I don't care if you're building fences. It doesn't matter if you're sweeping floors. It doesn't matter, students, if you're taking out the trash. Doesn't matter if you're cleaning up your room. Whatever you do, it doesn't matter if you're doing high-dollar real estate deals. It doesn't matter if you're making clothes. “Whatever you do, do it for Jesus, not for men.”

Think about Jesus as your boss, as your parent, as your supervisor, your teacher, coach, or CEO. It’s human nature that, left to our own devices, we're going to move toward comfort. Seeing Jesus as our CEO will keep us from being lazy.

What if you’re retired? Did you know that retirement isn’t mentioned in the Bible? Let's say you retired from one job. Do something else! Ask Jesus (your CEO) what He would have for you to do. Because work gives us dignity. You may not need to make money, but you have to have dignity.

Go to Ant University

Observation

Proverbs 6:6-11, “Go to the ant, you sluggard...” Observe creation. “...observe the ant.”

Education

“Consider its ways, and be wise.” That's education. It's a good observation. A learning experience.

Initiation

“It has no commander, no overseer, or ruler.” Do you take initiative in integrity? At the office, are you the first to speak the truth? Are you the first with an innovative idea? If they say, ‘Who are the top five percent of producers?’ would you be on that list? Would you be in that conversation? You should be! So should I.

Work! Because when we realize we're working for God, our workspace can become a worship place.

Preparation

“It stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Be prepared. Ants are prepared. 

Procrastination

That's what a sluggard does—he or she procrastinates.

Solomon asks two questions:

1. “How long will you lie there, you sluggard?” Isn't that amazing—doing the same things the same way, yet expecting different results?
2. “When will you get up from your sleep?” “A little sleep (see, just a little bit), a little slumber (just a little bit), a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come on you like a thief, scarcity like an armed man.” (Proverbs 6:10-11) No one can predict when they’ll be robbed.

Priorities and Work

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you’re being sluggish in any of the following areas. Are you putting in the work to keep from financial poverty, relational poverty, spiritual poverty, or emotional poverty? If you aren’t, scarcity will come on you like a thief. 

Family

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you about the priority of your marriage? Marriage is the only relationship that's analogous to God's relationship with His people. How about your kids? Are you impressing upon them the importance of work and dignity? Are you disciplining them with love and authority?

Work 

Are you working with integrity, innovation, and creativity? Are you concentrating on the significant and trying new things?

Health 

The Bible says that our bodies are a temple, a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit of God. It says don't trash the temple. Are you eating a healthy amount of food? Some people have the opposite problem of overeating. Then you have anorexia and bulimia. Even guys can have an unhealthy relationship with their health, worshiping their hulking six-pack.

Money 

Money matters to God. Are you lazy with your stewardship? Maybe you're overspending and you’re in debt. That’s being slothful about your finances and your budget.

Jesus 

God the Father is a worker. God the Son did the work on the cross for your sins and mine. The Holy Spirit of God is working in all of our lives. Jesus took the initiative to die on the cross for our sins. He intentionally offers you and me a personal relationship with Him.

Reflect

Have you made the decision to receive Christ? You can make it right now, and your work will never be the same. There's a work that only He can do. And there's work that only you can do. Receive now the wonderful work of our Savior.

Next Steps

Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and help guide you from this day forward. If you’ve made a decision to follow Christ, we’d love to celebrate with you. Join us online or in person at Fellowship Church. Let’s begin your faith journey together.