– Scripture:

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.

                                Ephesians 6:5–8 MSG

– Reflection:

                 It All Matters

God designed us and built us for his work. Work is his gift to us, not his punishment, nor even a necessary evil. It’s how we’re brought into how he’s blessing and helping his sons and daughters. How do you think about work? What do you think about your work? Is it something you look forward to? Do you have to drag yourself there? Is it a calling? Is it a means to an end? Work shouldn’t separate you from your faith. It should be an expression of your faith.

Where do we go from here?

God provides his blessings and help through people through us. The blessing of a house is given by God, but through the people who build it, who assist in its purchase, like the realtor and the banker; who make and sell the furnishings, who maintain it, and even those who insure the house against its loss. All this seemingly secular work becomes sacred when it’s done (1) to love and serve God and his purposes and (2) to love and serve God’s sons and daughters. It may not seem like it sometimes, especially with supply chains as long and complex as they are today, but it does. There’s no menial or meaningless work as long as it positively helps someone else.

Our Prayer for Today

Father, thank you for allowing us to be a part of God’s blessing, giving us the ability to help others. May it continue to give us purpose and meaning to our lives. Keep us from tha dark thoughts of how negative work and helping another can be, and continue to allow us to see how helping another is your plan that will bring us joy and strength of community. Amen.