Why Do We Work?

Monday, April 14, 2014



Work. What comes to mind when I say that word? How do you view your work?
Many of us are under the impression that God required us to work after the fall in the Garden of Eden. We may be living under the perception that work is punishment. We may see it as a necessary evil. How might this perception of work affect our attitude about work?
Work is NOT a necessary evil. God created us to work. He created us to work BEFORE Adam and Eve bit into the apple. After God created the earth and all that is therein, he placed us in charge of caring for it all. That is our work.
Our work is the action of taking care of things that God has entrusted us with.
With that definition of work, how might our thinking about work change? If work is the action of taking care of things, how can we flip our thinking about work? What does the “action of taking care of things” include? Work is the action of taking care of a lot of things: our home, our relationships, our children, our bodies, our social life, and the job we do for pay. Work is a whole host of things we do and involves the bigger picture of who we are. Work IS more than a job; it’s a lot of jobs, a lot of actions! Not only is work the action we do on a job, but it’s also the actions we do in everything that God has entrusted us with.
Our work is our relationship with everyone and everything that God has entrusted us with.
With this definition in mind, look at what this verse in Colossians says about how we approach our work.
·        Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Work as if we are working for the Lord. This means in all aspects of work, in all of our jobs.
When God created the world, he created work. When God created us, he created for specific work, a specific purpose. We are designed to make an impact on the world in everything we think, feel, say, and do. Our work is the action we use to accomplish our purpose. Our paying job is one way we work. Everything else we do is a part of our work too. We are to do all of it as if we are doing it for the Lord.
It is our responsibility to determine who we are in him, what our God-given purpose is and what the work is we’ve been given. Galatians 6:4 tells us, "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you've been given." (The Message)
As we think about our work, let us explore who we are and the work we’ve been given to do. Let us pay careful attention to our God-given purpose and how we live in our purpose whether we are working at our paying job or working in all other aspects of our lives.
·        Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 (NASB)

Limitless Living

Tuesday, April 1, 2014



Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.  I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. Ephesians 3: 8-9

When Paul describes himself as “the least deserving of all God’s people,” he means that without God’s help, he would never be able to do God’s work. Yet God chose him to share the Good News with the Gentiles and gave him the power to do it. Sometimes we focus on our limitations instead of our limitlessness. Do we self-limit ourselves? Are there things God wants us to do, equips us to do, makes opportunities available for us to do, whispers to us to do but we don’t?  When we don’t, we are limiting God. We are living in our limitations instead of limitlessness. We want to experience limitless living with God.  Paul realized he could limit himself by continuing to think of himself as “the least deserving of all God’s people.” How might the entire course of the Early Church have changed if Paul had focused on his limitations? This is somber thought! Thank goodness Paul chose not to limit himself but to experience limitless living. Paul moved from limitations to limitlessness. He went from limited to unlimited when he allowed God to work through him as he traveled the world for Christ, as he started churches, and as he encouraged others in their faith journey.







What is the connection between the following verse and living a limitless life?







When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Luke 12:48







·        God gives us much.



·        God expects much.



·        If God gives and God expects, doesn’t he also equip?







Paul says he was “chosen to explain to everyone.” God gave him skills, abilities, and gifts. Then God chose a mission for him, and God expected the mission to be fulfilled. Paul had a choice. He accepted the mission, proclaimed the message, and he embraced his ministry. As a result, the Good News spread around the world.



How far might the Good News spread if we accept our mission, proclaim the message, and embrace our own ministry?



It will be fun to watch what happens will limitless living!

 
Leading Forward - by Templates para novo blogger