The most important reason why we work

Jonathan Hayashi June 29, 2018

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One Sunday afternoon, a conversation about retirement surfaced during a fellowship time after church. 

A member described her own decision like this: “Working a normal job, I had to spend 40 to 50 hours a week doing what my employer wanted. Now that I’m retired, I’m able to devote myself to ministry as ministry had to come second! I am going to nowdevote all my time to God and ministry.”

I understood her point of view. However, while we all nodded along as she spoke, I knew something wasn’t right. 

I recognized that we live in a false dichotomy of the secular and the sacred life. Compartmentalized Christianity that divorces our church life from the entire world.

Glorifying God through our work

Our everyday lives ought to reflect the gospel as Jesus model for us. This is a platform of building relationships that may move toward a gospel conversation.

We must live in such a way that those who don’t know God recognize something different. This is a difficult task but with the Lord’s guidance, it can be done.

• Paul told Timothy to be “an example of the believers, in word, in manner of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
• This example should extend to everyone we come in contact with. Our speech should be “always with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).
• The behavior of our life should be “honest” (1 Peter 2:11).
• A Christian should express love in his dealings with his fellow man—“Honor all men” (1 Peter 2:17).
• The spirit, faith and purity of the follower of Christ should be evident to all ( 1 Corinthians 11:1).

As George Whitfield, an English Anglican cleric, once said, “Conduct yourself among the Gentiles. Be honest and earliest at the job and least complainer. They will then observe your good conduct and praise your God in heaven.”

In fact, John Calvin and Martin Luther spoke on vocation as much as they preached on the importance of sola scripture. It doesn’t matter what type of job we have, we all are royal priests. We must begin to live as saints in the communion of saints to those around us.

Martin Luther said, “The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes because God is interested in good craftsmanship.” 

Why? So that we get to share the gospel and see lives be forever changed by the good news of the gospel of Jesus! Everything comes back to the gospel ultimately. This no longer becomes a “mandatory duty.”We don’t have to talk about Jesus, we get to talk about Jesus!

Is your work glorifying to God and an overflow of Christ’s love toward those you serve?

Photo source: istock 

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Dr. Jonathan Hayashi earned his B.A. from Moody Bible Institute with a double concentration in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies; a M.A., in Congregational Leadership from Moody Theological Seminary, and Doctorate of Educational Ministry in Biblical Counseling from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He presently serves on the Executive Committee at Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, MO) and serves on the Board of Trustees at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served as Senior Pastor at Northern Hills Baptist Church Holt, Missouri from 2020-2022. Learn More »

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