Getting the best from your work (I)

Work is a critical component of our lives as major part of our lives is spent working. The average person works forty to fifty hours a week . . . two thirds of our adult life is spent working.  This means we need to get work right.

“Did you know that the average person will spend about 70,000 hours at work? Admittedly, many of us look at work as a necessary evil that takes up a large portion of our lives. It’s easy to get burnt out by jobs and let it affect our attitude or work ethic. Luckily there are many bible verses about work that we can turn to for guidance.

In the beginning, in Genesis, we see that God intended for us to work and serve others through our every-day jobs. You can either let the world define your purpose for work, or you can choose to follow God’s purpose for your work.

Work is God-ordained, and it allows you to use the skills, intelligence, and experience that He has gifted you. In Genesis, we see God working to create the earth. We also see God put Adam in charge of the Garden of Eden to take care of it. Additionally, God set the ultimate example for us by resting on the seventh day. Our lives aren’t meant to revolve around work, they’re meant to revolve around Christ, and work is one of the ways we can bring Him glory.

“Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.” Ephesians 6.6

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3.17.

Even during the most mundane tasks, you can choose to have a work ethic that pleases God. Ultimately, you’re working for the Lord, not human masters. The bible verses about work below encourage us to work hard with all of our heart, taking pride in our accomplishments. We weren’t created to just slide by in life and do the bare minimum!” Sarah Long

Work is critical to our total wellbeing. It is a great determinant of our productivity and fulfillment in life.

“The Bible makes it clear that work matters to God. No matter what your profession or occupation – whether you’re a parent, a bus driver, an artist or an engineer – God cares about your work. Work is part of God’s big picture. God created all things and He has revealed that, in His sovereignty, He is progressing created order through a process of Creation, Fall and Redemption. God’s created order started with the perfect garden (Garden of Eden) and will be consummated in the perfect city (New Jerusalem). Our actual work matters to God, now and eternally. God has chosen to create men and women in His image to, among other things, work and tend this created order for His glory and for the betterment of humankind. In ways we can’t fully understand, the good work we do now, done with and for Him, will survive into the New Jerusalem. Work itself has intrinsic value.’ Andy Mills

Our approach and attitude must be right if our lives will count.

Work is essential to survival so work is an indispensable component of life and because of this many people just go through the motions of work as captives since they have much of a choice.

To be continued

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