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A Theology of Work
Did you know that “work” appears more than 650 times in
Scripture; retirement only once and that one time basically to say- no! Wow, now that is a disruptive concept or
principle isn’t it? In our culture it seems that most people say, “ I can’t
wait until I can retire.” From what are you retiring- life? Or are you retiring
into something you want to do. Perhaps the purpose of this “A Theology” chapter
is to suggest that we might “retire” into God’s will for us to do; what He has
prepared for us to do. The Apostle Paul brings us some real Reformation
instruction in Ephesians 2:8-10 saying, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God wants us to keep on working for Him saying, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). There is the key to work,
God has prepared, empowered and gifted us to do good works that He has prepared
and equipped us to do. This is not to gain salvation for He has already done all
of that on the cross.
If we
could really embrace that we are not working or doing “good works” for man or
ourselves. We are doing it all for God by His power in our weakness. This
should be empowering and freeing for us. We are free indeed to do everything
through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. He directs and leads us on the
path He wants us to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us that we must “Trust
in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. In all
your ways acknowledge (seek) Him and He will direct (make our paths straight)
our paths.”
I have
written an essay on retirement, which presents God’s will that we never retire.
Only the Levites in the temple were allowed to retire as age 55 to become
mentors for the younger Levites to grow in worship skills. So, is that
depressing or uplifting to you? For me it has become a great blessing, because
God has given us “His very great and precious promises, so that through them we might
participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of the world caused
by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4). He has given us everything we need
through His 7,000 plus promises His will and empowerment for each of us.
He has
gifted each of us to do the “Good Works” that He has prepared for us. He has
gifted us through His Holy Spirit to do them. He has given every believer at
least one spiritual gift of many that we can read about in 1 Corinthians 12,
Romans 12 and elsewhere to exhort or serve in the body of Christ. For me these
gifts were not very clear until about a decade ago. God was telling me through
my work as a healthcare Chaplain that the Barnabas gifts of comfort and
encouragement had been entrusted to me. That’s what I have been prayerfully
expressing for patients, families and staff. This is not a religious thing, but
spiritual or soul deep caring and helping. To these related gifts, God has been
developing in me something I thought was anathema to me-teaching. I was brought
up to think as George Bernard Shaw said: “People who are able to do something well can do that thing for a living, while people
who are not able to do anything that well make a living by teaching.” This modern proverb told me by my father and in
the play Man and Superman, is a lie
from the pit. Teaching is a great gift of God. It can be done in schools, in
the home and place of work. It is spoken and written. For me writing two
academic theses was more than travail; it was pure drudgery. But God has
changed all of that. Yet, the joke or fear or sad expression was on me. God has
taken me from the business of running hospitals, a monumental work, and led me
into my true calling as a healthcare chaplain and Christian speaker and writer.
He has been equipping me to write daily essays or sermons that go out into the
world. Slowly, but surely He has brought joy and passion into my work, because
He has called me to it. I have published several books and some 600 essays on
my blog www.greatisgodsfaithfulness.com.
People from around the world read my Spirit led epistles. It is way beyond my
expectations.
A
friend reminded me of Author/Theologian Andrew Murray wisdom, “Beware in your prayer, above everything, of
limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can
do. Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think. Each time you
intercede, be quiet first and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can
do, of how He delights to hear Christ, of your place in Christ; and expect
great things.” God is working in and
through us by His Holy Spirit to accomplish His will for each of us. Pay
attention to the still small voice and the urgings in your life by others
through the Lord. God could be leading you into your gifted calling and work
for His glory and purposes.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.