Sacred Work

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. – Ephesians 6:5-7, NLT

“You work for God.” As a pastor, this sort of statement has often been shared with me. Sometimes by well-intentioned people who are sharing their level of respect for pastoral ministry. Sometimes by people firmly planting their tongue in cheek. As if to give a wink and nod to the fact that my work is altogether different from their work. It is this false dichotomy that we often have in our minds some work is ‘sacred’ and some is ‘secular’. False? Are you sure that there isn’t some work that is removed from work for God? Yes. I am convinced that the Bible teaches nothing less than the complete destruction of any wall of separation between one follower of Christ’s work whose employment is from a church and another follower of Christ’s work that is repairing potholes. Each follower of Christ is to work as a slave of Christ. Because, for the disciple, all of life becomes sacred. There is no way for you to set aside your identity in Christ for 8-10 hours a day Monday through Friday and to be following Jesus well. Part of what we must do is push against this frame of mind that says when I go to church or sing praise songs or read my Bible that is when I am following Christ. It isn’t false it is just incomplete. You are also following Christ when you go to work and work hard for your boss. You are also following Christ when you do the dishes or laundry or make a meal for your family. There is no area or activity in your life that Jesus does not have by right ownership of. The question that remains is if we will give Him Lordship in each moment and see ourselves as slaves of Christ. After all, you work for God!

For self-reflection: Do I operate out of the understanding that all of life is sacred in that it is set apart to God?

For WEDnesday Discussion:

·         Slavery has existed in most every human culture in one form or another. How do you (or can you) use your influence to subvert this evil?

·         What helps you remember that you do not finally answer to your superior but to God?

·         As an employee, the expectation of co-workers or superiors can go against what God asks of you. How have you navigated these moments well? What have you learned from your mistakes in these areas?

·         As a boss or teacher, you are given authority over those under your supervision. How do you resist the temptation to see your subordinates as ‘less than’ you? What are helpful ways to remind yourself that those under your authority are of equal value?

As a superior, you are not to use aggressive threats to get productivity from those under your authority. What are effective ways to motivate people outside of threats?