Eph 6: 5-8 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. (NKJV)
Eph 6: 5-8 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. (The Message)
Eph 6: 5-8 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. (The Message)
There was this cardio surgeon who gave up his practice and served full time as a pastor in a local church. For a few years, he did his best to serve in the church but without much success; there wasn’t much numerical growth or spiritual development in the church.
Finally the man became demoralized because of lack of progress in the ministry; he sought God earnestly to find out where he went wrong. And the LORD told him that He did not call him into the full time ministry in the first place so He couldn’t bless him anyway. So the surgeon gave up the ministry and went back to be a cardio surgeon. And as a heart surgeon he helped more people than he ever did as a pastor. The moral of the story is to serve God in whatever work He has called us to and remain faithful in it.
Don't get me wrong. I am all for full time ministry. It is a noble profession. But most important, do what the LORD asks us and then we will have success in what we do for Him.
Finally the man became demoralized because of lack of progress in the ministry; he sought God earnestly to find out where he went wrong. And the LORD told him that He did not call him into the full time ministry in the first place so He couldn’t bless him anyway. So the surgeon gave up the ministry and went back to be a cardio surgeon. And as a heart surgeon he helped more people than he ever did as a pastor. The moral of the story is to serve God in whatever work He has called us to and remain faithful in it.
Don't get me wrong. I am all for full time ministry. It is a noble profession. But most important, do what the LORD asks us and then we will have success in what we do for Him.
One of the drawbacks of the Western mindset (which is based on the Greek culture) is the segregation of what is sacred and secular; separation between what is of religious use and the non religious, the spiritual and nonspiritual. But there is no such division in the Bible. We are to live our lives fully separated unto the LORD; in our daily affairs, employment, family, relationship.
For many Christians, serving in church is sacred, spiritual and desirable whereas serving in the working place is secular, nonspiritual and spending least time at best. This has created a culture of avoidance for what is deemed secular, lack of pursuit for excellence in our jobs and low self esteem. How many of us see ourselves less important, inferior or insignificant in the kingdom of God because we hold a job compared to a full time pastor.
If you look into the church, over 95% of the members hold daily jobs eg. Doctors, engineers, secretary, farmers, police officers, house wives, truck drivers. That leaves only less than 5% are full time pastors, ministers etc.
I personally believe this is not a coincidence that the majority hold jobs. God could have allowed more full time pastors, ministers in the church if He wanted to. But He preferred to put most of the believers in the working place for a purpose. Like a wise general, He places His troops in the most important battlefield in order to win the most significant victory.
Believers in the working place have a significant role to play to win the world for Christ. The working place is our platform to speak about the goodness of God (not many believers have the opportunity to speak on the pulpit) and also to change the world with godly values through our lives. The only bible that most of the people will ever read is through the interaction and working with believers in the offices, schools, shops, construction sites etc.
So let us appreciate God’s calling in our lives to serve Him in the working place. Don’t see ourselves as insignificant in the work of the LORD compared to the full time ministers. I believe God values both the work in church and in the working place as equally important. Otherwise He won't place so many of us in it. He wants to use us in church, our jobs and wherever He sent us.
God doesn't leave us alone in our offices, construction sites, shops, police stations etc. He is always there with us and assist us to make an impact for Him with our jobs. Use whatever talents we have to glorify Jesus in the working place and make Him known. Ask God to show you how you can minister to your colleagues, business partners, clients. Pray for them too.
John Wesley once said that the world is his parish. Yes, I agree that our mission is in the world and not just limited in the church.
God doesn't leave us alone in our offices, construction sites, shops, police stations etc. He is always there with us and assist us to make an impact for Him with our jobs. Use whatever talents we have to glorify Jesus in the working place and make Him known. Ask God to show you how you can minister to your colleagues, business partners, clients. Pray for them too.
John Wesley once said that the world is his parish. Yes, I agree that our mission is in the world and not just limited in the church.
Good posting Phillip! :) You must influence your colleagues and also our young working people to not have that "sacred" and "secular" segregation. It's a real devilish old mindset!
ReplyDelete