I hope you had an enjoyable Labor Day weekend! This Labor Day I spent time up in Indiana at Lake Wawasee. It was a beautiful place that gave me many moments of reflection, rest, and fellowship. Because of the holiday, I wanted to focus on the action of work. Work is often thought of negatively in our society, however God made work for His glory and for our own good! Remember, work was created by God before the fall of man! God instructed Adam to work in the Garden of Eden. I want to dive in on three points as to why work is good!
1. Work is OPPORTUNITY
Have you ever been in a tough spot? That spot where the world would give you a pass because your situation is difficult, or the job at hand is challenging. We live in a day and age with Instagram where people only see the success, but rarely do we ever show the work that was involved, or the heartbreak that was felt in prior instances. Believe it or not, people are watching you. The people that are most impacted by your actions are of course the ones closest to you throughout the day. This means your family and your coworkers! There is nothing more welcoming to a non-believer than a person who lives, acts, and works in a way that many would categorize as different. There is nothing more attracting to a relationship with God than when you encounter a person that has every right to be upset or be tired, yet they continuously show the positive grace and energy that is only received by being in relationship with God. God calls us to change the world, not to be changed by the world. In good times and in bad times there are 2 expectations in your actions: One from God and one from society. You get to chose your action, and by choosing the path that God has laid out, and working diligently in the pursuit of Godliness, you will be given opportunity and you will give opportunity to those around you.
2. Work is RELATIONAL
Matthew 6:24 tells us that you cannot serve two masters. Just as I said before, you have a choice each day on which master you will serve. Simplicity has it's place here: In all your doings are you serving God or are you serving yourself? If you are serving yourself, then like a relationship between two self centered people, the relationship is doomed. However, if you are serving God, then you are in fact serving God's Kingdom (and that includes YOU!). God wants to be in relationship with you and He wants all of you. He wants you to take your troubles, your desires, and your triumphs, and give it all to Him. A great friend of mine said that "You are never more like Christ than when you love, act, and work with grace without worldly agenda." Our job on this earth is to work for God and in doing so, be filled with the Holy Spirit, become a conduit, and share God's grace with others. The relationship between God and us can only exist when we are continuously pursuing God and putting His wants first. By doing God's work and by giving our life to God, we become the clay in the Potter's hands. We are wrapped by the Holy Spirit in relationship, and we are one with God.
3. Work is PURPOSE
I feel so much sadness for people that experience this life without purpose. If you don't remember a thing in this post, remember this: A person who doesn't put God first in all things, will not experience purpose, and will be forever climbing a revolving wall that stagnates them in despair. Often times people are unhappy because of their circumstances with their work, life, family, etc. These circumstances have been given to you by God for His glory. You are in fact where you are supposed to be. I know what you're going to ask: But Cameron, I'm in a terrible spot, how is it that God wants me here? I hate my job, my co-workers, the money I'm making....why does God want me to be unhappy? The answer is this: God wants YOU! God is so loving that He will strip whatever you hold near and dear that isn't in line with His purpose. Often times, the perception you have of failure and heartbreak is caused because you're out of tune with God. Much like a guitar, if the strings are not in proper tune the sound is a mess. But after some struggle and work (tuning the strings) you are in a position to create a beautiful sound! When you are in tune with God in all of your actions and work, then you are able to function with the purpose you were made for! Working on ourselves, humbling ourselves before God, dropping our pride filled thoughts and egos, and giving our life's work to God will create your purpose! This doesn't mean go and quit your job and become a martyr.....What I'm trying to tell you is that you are in the place you are for a reason. Seek out God with all your heart and your mind and He will reveal that reason. He will reveal His purpose in your place. Work towards Him and for Him and you will find the joy that is beyond any understanding.
My prayer for you this week is that you focus on the most important work: Love God and love others. To do this I pray that you go to God daily and pursue His word diligently so that you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Have a great week!
Song of the Week: Yes I Will
-Cameron
1. Work is OPPORTUNITY
Have you ever been in a tough spot? That spot where the world would give you a pass because your situation is difficult, or the job at hand is challenging. We live in a day and age with Instagram where people only see the success, but rarely do we ever show the work that was involved, or the heartbreak that was felt in prior instances. Believe it or not, people are watching you. The people that are most impacted by your actions are of course the ones closest to you throughout the day. This means your family and your coworkers! There is nothing more welcoming to a non-believer than a person who lives, acts, and works in a way that many would categorize as different. There is nothing more attracting to a relationship with God than when you encounter a person that has every right to be upset or be tired, yet they continuously show the positive grace and energy that is only received by being in relationship with God. God calls us to change the world, not to be changed by the world. In good times and in bad times there are 2 expectations in your actions: One from God and one from society. You get to chose your action, and by choosing the path that God has laid out, and working diligently in the pursuit of Godliness, you will be given opportunity and you will give opportunity to those around you.
2. Work is RELATIONAL
Matthew 6:24 tells us that you cannot serve two masters. Just as I said before, you have a choice each day on which master you will serve. Simplicity has it's place here: In all your doings are you serving God or are you serving yourself? If you are serving yourself, then like a relationship between two self centered people, the relationship is doomed. However, if you are serving God, then you are in fact serving God's Kingdom (and that includes YOU!). God wants to be in relationship with you and He wants all of you. He wants you to take your troubles, your desires, and your triumphs, and give it all to Him. A great friend of mine said that "You are never more like Christ than when you love, act, and work with grace without worldly agenda." Our job on this earth is to work for God and in doing so, be filled with the Holy Spirit, become a conduit, and share God's grace with others. The relationship between God and us can only exist when we are continuously pursuing God and putting His wants first. By doing God's work and by giving our life to God, we become the clay in the Potter's hands. We are wrapped by the Holy Spirit in relationship, and we are one with God.
3. Work is PURPOSE
I feel so much sadness for people that experience this life without purpose. If you don't remember a thing in this post, remember this: A person who doesn't put God first in all things, will not experience purpose, and will be forever climbing a revolving wall that stagnates them in despair. Often times people are unhappy because of their circumstances with their work, life, family, etc. These circumstances have been given to you by God for His glory. You are in fact where you are supposed to be. I know what you're going to ask: But Cameron, I'm in a terrible spot, how is it that God wants me here? I hate my job, my co-workers, the money I'm making....why does God want me to be unhappy? The answer is this: God wants YOU! God is so loving that He will strip whatever you hold near and dear that isn't in line with His purpose. Often times, the perception you have of failure and heartbreak is caused because you're out of tune with God. Much like a guitar, if the strings are not in proper tune the sound is a mess. But after some struggle and work (tuning the strings) you are in a position to create a beautiful sound! When you are in tune with God in all of your actions and work, then you are able to function with the purpose you were made for! Working on ourselves, humbling ourselves before God, dropping our pride filled thoughts and egos, and giving our life's work to God will create your purpose! This doesn't mean go and quit your job and become a martyr.....What I'm trying to tell you is that you are in the place you are for a reason. Seek out God with all your heart and your mind and He will reveal that reason. He will reveal His purpose in your place. Work towards Him and for Him and you will find the joy that is beyond any understanding.
My prayer for you this week is that you focus on the most important work: Love God and love others. To do this I pray that you go to God daily and pursue His word diligently so that you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Have a great week!
Song of the Week: Yes I Will
-Cameron
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