Work

Working is a gift from God – a pre-fall, pre-sin, pre-curse gift. While sin’s consequence injected obstacles and pain into the equation (“the ground will produce thorns” leading to work “by the sweat of your brow” – Gen.3:18, 19), the commission to work preceded the fall (“God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work” – Gen.2:15). Even in the first chapters of the Bible we are introduced to God who is said to be at “work” in creating his universe (Gen.2:2). And remember that in the perfect and blessed order of things in the New Jerusalem work is not extracted: we are told that God’s “servants will serve him” (Rev.22:3).

It may be hard to believe but even now we can experience a taste of God’s perfect design for work as we adopt a new mindset about our labor. It is not a curse. It does not have to be drudgery. It can be a foreshadowing of your eternal home. Notice the Christian perspective on work (even the most demanding work) in Paul’s exhortation to the Colossians: “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 for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for men, since you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (3:22-24).

So let’s stop dreading Monday morning, instead let us express a godly passion to work with all of our hearts for the glory of our King. He is coming, and he will compensate us for how we tackled our nine-to-five.