Finding Financial Balance: WorkingUzorak

NOT JUST A PAYCHECK

Statistics suggest that over a lifetime, the average person spends 100,000 hours working at a job. Next to sleep, it’s how we spend most of our time on earth. It’s easy to understand that we work to get a paycheck so that we can afford basic needs like food and shelter, and if we are fortunate some extras. But if we look at our work as only a "necessary evil," something we must do to provide for ourselves and our families, we are missing out on the deeper meaning and value of work. We need to understand God’s original created design for work in our lives.

In the beginning, God created the heavens, earth, and all that are in them. All of this creating is ascribed to Him as work, and it was good. And then he created man and assigned work for the man to do, to tend and watch over the garden. The word translated in Genesis 2:15 (ESV) as ‘work’ is derived from a late Hebrew word meaning "serve" or "perform acts of worship." In the beginning, work was not a curse and was not intended to be painful and difficult. It was meant to care for God’s creation as a form of worship, a way to honor God with our lives.

But then sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s rebellion.

Sin corrupted God’s creative order, causing separation, pain, toil, and strife, but it could not negate God’s intended design. Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross made the way for restoring all of creation back to harmony with God.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to join him in this work of reconciling the broken and lost parts of creation. The things we do each day — and the way we go about doing them — all have the potential to worship God as we provide and care for mankind and bring reconciliation of our individual areas of influence back to His created order. This does not mean that all Christians are called to hold formal job positions in the church. We have each been created for specific good work, and as we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He will show us how our daily tasks can serve and glorify Him. We’ll talk more about that tomorrow.

Ask Yourself:

— What does work look like in your current season of life? (job, school, caregiving…)

— What would you describe as the purpose(s) of the work you do?

— How does the concept of work as worship fit your current perspective on your job?

Pause to Pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for designing work as a conduit for blessing and provision in my life. Help me to also see it as a way to honor you. Open my eyes to specific ways that I can serve and glorify you as I _______. Amen.

Take a Next Step:

Consider one way that sin has caused division or pain in your work situation. Set aside time to pray for God’s reconciliation or restoration in that area. Be open to any steps He may ask you to take.