Thursday, February 19 2009

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. --Colossians 3:23
God never gives up on His children. Whether we're only now discovering our work matters to Him orwe've known it for years, here are five principles that help us keep our service in line with His priorities;with His thinking.
We were created to be in relationship with God. Presbyterians have for centuries stated it this way intheir confessions: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." The first and mostimportant thing to remember is that relationship always trumps action in God's economy. To know and bein His will, we must understand that our first priority is to be in relationship with Him.
How we do that, is by fulfilling the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus tells us in thesepassages that loving God and loving others are the most important commandments; echoing the truth ofour first point. But how do we fulfill this commandment? We love Him by coming to know Him, and thatcomes by knowing His Word. When we read His Word, God then reveals Himself to us, and teaches us tolove Him and others.
Once we've understood why we were made and what is the first priority of life (loving God and others);we're now ready for some assignments. Those who know God have an obligation to tell others about Him.
Next, God gives us our second assignment in Genesis 1:26-31 and Genesis 2:15. Here He tells us it's theChristian's responsibility to tend His creation. This means the accountant is as important as the pastor ormissionary in God's economy; and the truck driver and coal miner are as vital to God's plan as theaccountant and pastor; and the stock broker is as significant to God's structure as the coal miner andaccountant, and so on.
Finally, to put the pieces together with the humility that gives our work power and authority, we mustaccept that this life is about service and sacrifice, not self-ambition or service to self. Those who wouldteach health/wealth principles take you away from the place God wants His people. Our motto should beechoed in the words of John the Baptist, who said of Jesus: "He must become greater and I must becomelesser." (John 3:30). Other passages to support this include Romans 12:1-2 and Galatians 2:20.
We've each been granted the privilege of expressing our love for God by our service to His creation,and how we do that will be different for all of us. The Great Author has imbued the story of human historywith poignancy, power and resonance by giving each of us who are willing to serve the chance to play arole in the drama.