Our View of Work -- Jordan Stone

An article authored by our son Jordan.

Our View of Work
Jordan Stone
Dec 29, 2008

-- Taken from a sermon preached on Sunday December 28, 2008 --

I believe that most Christians today view their occupation as one of duty not opportunity. Ephesians 6:5-9 ruins such an approach by saying that you should work as unto Christ - for there is indeed no higher calling, no greater labor, no more majestic opportunity than to serve the Lord. This opportunity should completely transform the nature of your occupation, and I believe it should do so in eleven different ways.

1. Our goal is not to make a paycheck and leave, rather it is to deposit the grace of Christ in the officei. God did not place you in your job or in the office to simply show up, make a wage, and leave. Rather He has commissioned you to push back the darkness of sin in the workplace by spreading the knowledge of the person and work of Jesus, His death, burial, and resurrection. You preach the Gospel with your words and show its transforming power by your actions.

2. Gives purpose to the seemingly mundane and unnoticed actions of daily worki. We are working as to God, our service has divine purposeii. "To wash feet may be servile, but to wash his feet is royal work. To unloose the shoe-latchet is poor employ, but to unloose the great Master's shoe is a princely privilege. The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all to the glory of God! Then "divine service" is not a thing of a few hours and a few places, but all life becomes holiness unto the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle and its golden candlestick." - Spurgeon

3. We should work hard i. Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might . . .”ii. We must have a very low view of his infinite majesty if we think that we can honor him by doing his service half-heartedly, or in a slovenly style.

4. Our attitude must be of humble service to others that reflects our humble service to Christi. Ephesians 6:5 – “With fear and trembling, with a sincere heart . . .”ii. It is he who is humble and contrite in Spirit that the Lord esteems, you are to have the mind of Christ, a mind Philippians 2 defines as humble obedience.

5. There is no duplicity in our actionsi. Ephesians 6:6 – “not by the way of eye-service, as people pleasers . . .”ii. The hardest workers, the greatest workers are those who do not simply work when they are being watched, they work hard and well when there is no one around to watch.

6. Our disposition should be marked more by joyful service than dutiful obligationi. Ephesians 6:7 – “Rendering service with a good will . . .”ii. Oh a joyous call it is to work for the King of Kings, and one day sit at His feet and here “well done, good and faithful one”.iii. If there is one person who brings a smile in the office let it be the Christian, if there is one person who brings laughter let it be the Christian, if there is one person who creates an atmosphere of joy and happiness let it be the Christian.

7. Gives us a desire to do good in the workplacei. Ephesians 6:8 – “Knowing whatever good anyone does . . .”ii. Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light shine before others, so that . . .”

8. Because we know the outcome we are optimistici. Ephesians 6:8 – “Knowing that . . . this he will receive back . . .”ii. We are promised salvation and sealed for eternity, therefore stress, doubt, and worry about that which is temporal should not be the defining characteristic of the Christian worker, rather may the Christian be known for their hope.iii. If the economy tumbles let the Christian be the one who hopes, if jobs are being cut and pink slips are inevitable let the Christian be the one who hopes, if an authority belittles and belidgers let the Christian bring hope.

9. Revolutionize how we relate to those work for us, those we work for, and those that work with usi. Ephesians 6:9 – “there is no partiality with him.”ii. Your work status on the org chart does not – in one way – effect who you are in the view of Jesus. If you have workers underneath you, you serve and treat them as better than yourself. If you have people above you, you serve and treat them as better than yourself.

10. Anything but our best is unworthy to givei. Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men . . .”ii. To coast and float are foreign concepts to the Christian worker.

11. Our attitude and disposition must be one that adorns the doctrine of God our Saviori. Titus 2:10 – “Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.”ii. What a glorious thought, that our disposition in the workplace, our attitude in our vocation can adorn – can make beautiful – the doctrine of God our Savior.