We Do the Work

An ad on TV made the statement, “We do the Work.” That sounds rather good, doesn’t it? People who do not have the skills needed to do a specific job but have the financial means to pay someone to do the job, will jump at the chance to have someone else do the work for them. This action is helpful and appreciated. However, most parents do not want their children or grandchildren to fall into the trap of having others do their work for them. Adults want their children to study, work hard, obtain passing grades, and be excellent students. They want them to do the work they are supposed to do. For the most part people want those who have a job to take responsibility to get their own work done.

Work is important in the Bible. For example, the Apostle Paul says, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” – Philippians 2:12-13. This suggests that individuals need to work and God works as well.

1)    God’s work is to provide salvation through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus. The text says, “It is God who works in you.” We cannot work for our own salvation it is ours to receive by faith because of God’s grace.

2)    A Christian is to “work out your salvation.” This means that a person needs to live out and express the inner transformation that has already taken place in their lives.

Here is another biblical mention of work. “Whatever you do [Scope], work at it with all your heart [Method], as working for the Lord [Manner], not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance [Reward] from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” – Colossians 3:23-24. These verses suggest four aspects of work as identified in the text.

1)    Scope.  First, the range of work is described as "everything that is done." The verse simply says, “Whatever you do” which identifies boundaries of the work.

2)    Method.  Second, working “with all your heart” suggests that the action should be completed with much effort, dedication to the task, and be done with great delight.

3)    Manner.  Third, work needs to be undertaken with diligence, lots of integrity, and with great passion because Christians are “working for the Lord.”

4)    Reward.  Fourth, the reward for involvement is not achievement, but faithfulness as noted by the sentence, “You will receive an inheritance.”

God is at work in the lives of Christians. However, Christians need to have a commitment for exceptional work because the motivation for action is directly related to “working for the Lord.” In certain situations, Christians may let others do some of the work. However, in most cases they should be personally engaged in the work themselves.