 |
 |
| Billie Silvey |
| Working for God |
| August 2006 |
| When I was 13, I gave my life to God. And since then, God has always figured into my work decisions. As children, my sister and I worked on our Dad’s newspaper. He set his production schedule for the paper to allow us all to attend midweek worship, which at that time was held on Tuesday nights. Our postal permit specified that we’d have the papers in the post office first thing Thursday morning, which often necessitated working far into the night Wednesday. At some point, the elders of our independent country church decided that, since churches in larger towns had Wednesday night services, they wanted us to do the same. My father registered his objections, but to no avail. He had to work, but he gave my sister and me the choice--we could go to church or we could stay at the shop and help him get the paper out. My sister chose to go to church. I chose to help with the paper. Both were moral decisions, and each of us wanted to do God’s will. It was the case of a single principle playing itself out in different ways. Work is mentioned in the 10 Commandments: “Six days you shall labor and do all your work . . . ”(Exodus 20:9). The Psalmist refers to work: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us--yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17). Jesus spoke of work: “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Why work? 1) To be able to provide for ourselves and others. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” (1 Thessalonians 4:11) “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8) 2) To have the resources to give to those in need. “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). How do we work? I believe Paul was speaking to today’s wage slaves as well as of people in bondage when he said, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence to the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:22). We’re working for God, not just our bosses. Therefore, our work is a gift, a sacrifice to God. That does away with the tendency to cut corners, to be less than honest and not to do as well as we’re capable of doing All our work is God’s work. (See chapters on “My Work,” “Time at Home” and “Time on the Job” in Helen Young's and my book, Time Management for Christian Women.) |
 |