Work Redeemed: A Theology of WorkSample

WORK REDEEMED IN CHRIST

At the moment you became a believer in Christ, you received not only a Savior of your sins but also a Redeemer who restores every aspect of your life. That even includes the way you work.

Work is often difficult. Because we still live with the consequences of the fall, it can be hard and can feel defeating over the years. We can forget the purpose of what we are doing or feel there is no meaning to our work as we clock in day after day. We know God has placed us in our work for a purpose, but what is it?

Because of Christ’s work on our behalf on the cross, all things are made new and given a redemptive purpose. We have been delivered (redeemed) from our bondage to sin and no longer live in captivity to our fleshly nature (Romans 6:11, 14) but are a new creation created to serve Christ in the way that we work (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we look at our work through the lens of scripture, we can see that every single thing that we do is to bring God glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). Whatever we do, we do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people because we ultimately serve the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:23-24) That is our purpose in our work as God’s redeemed children.

Because God’s kingdom economy operates on a completely different set of values and systems, now even the most mundane and seemingly pointless work has meaning. So that means that every time that we are changing diapers, every time we plan a meal for our family that they might not seem to like, every time that we are held at the office late to meet a deadline, or we are folding the Mount Everest load of laundry left for us, we are working to serve the kingdom of God as redeemed people.

Let’s ask God to give us a new redeemed kingdom mindset in our work. Let’s remember the seemingly “meaningless” tasks set before us are opportunities for the gospel to shine forth. Scripture tells us that when we work unto the Lord, others can see those works and give glory to God because of it (Matthew 5:14-16). What an incredible opportunity that God gives us, to image His redemptive nature through our work to our family, our co-workers, our social media followers, and ultimately to the ends of the earth.