Your Work Matters

QUESTION:
If you inherit $10,000,000 today, would you go to work tomorrow?

"And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion..."
- Genesis 1:28

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."
- Genesis 2:15

Work is Good!

• God models work
• God commands work
• Work is not a curse, but a gift from God

Work is NOT just a means to an end!

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
- 1 Corinthians 10:31

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
- Colossians 3:17

We must learn not just to work to live, but to live to work for the glory of God!

Sacred vs Secular?

"And Jesus came and said to them,
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
- Matthew 28:18

Even in our everyday work, the Bible teaches NO separation between the "secular" and the "sacred"—Jesus is Lord of ALL!

"How can anyone remain interested in a religion that seems to have no concern with nine tenths of his life? The church's approach to an intelligent carpenter is usually confined to exhorting him not to be drunk and disorderly on Sundays. What the church should be telling him is this: the very first demand that his religion makes on him is that he should make good tables."
- Dorothy Sayers

Our primary calling to follow Christ should lead without fail to a number of secondary callings. These secondary callings should lead us to find our unique life purpose, in order to use our particular gifts and abilities to their utmost for God's glory.

Parable of the Talents

• Same general calling
• Different giftings
• NO micromanaging
• Start small
• Slow and steady
• Actively work, don't passively wait!

Lies We Tell Ourselves

• American Dream: "If you work hard enough, you can be anything you want to be."
• Exceptionalism: "If you work hard enough, you can be the best in the world."

Untitled Slide

God's Grace

• Saving Grace - for those who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation
• Common Grace - for everyone

The Great King has summoned each of us into his throne room. Take this portion of my kingdom, he says, I am making you steward over your office, your workbench, your kitchen stove. Put your heart into mastering this part of my world. Get it in order; unearth its treasures; do all you can with it. Then everyone will see what a glorious King I am. That's why we get up every morning and go to work. We don't labor simply to survive, insects do that. Our work is an honor, a privileged commission from our great King.
- Richard Pratt

Sources/Recommended Reading

• "How Then Should We Work" - Hugh Whelchel
• "Every Good Endeavor" - Tim Keller
• "Called to Create" - Jordan Raynor

Discussion Questions

• Does your everyday work feel connected to God's work? Why or why not?
• Have you ever felt pressure to work in the church because that is the only "real"/"full-time" Christian service?
• How does the "two-chapter gospel" do harm to God's design for vocation/calling?