"Off to Work I Go"
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I've never worked in a mine, but Disney's seven whistling dwarves seemed to enjoy it way more than they had any right to. How does anyone find that much joy in their work? I remember a bumper sticker that read, "I owe, I owe, so off to work I go." And it's true, we all have bills to pay, and sometimes feeding the family is all that keeps us grinding. So, is work one of God's good gifts to embrace or a curse to endure?
The Big Idea
The chance to do good work and appreciate the work of others is worth celebrating. As God the worker (John 5:17) created the universe, separating and ordering (Gen. 1:2-10), then filling it and making it useful (Gen. 1:11-31), we imitate him. Made in his image (Gen. 1:26), we subdue his good world (Gen. 1:28) with wisdom, creativity, and character that reflect his glory.
After the fall, the curse brought adversity to working the ground (Gen. 3:17-19), but work wasn't a curse. Even in Eden, God gave humans a job (Gen. 2:15). And he helps us work (Ps. 127:1; Prov. 16:3; John 15:5), allowing us to make a difference in big and small ways, from fixing a faucet to teaching the gospel. "By working hard" we receive the blessing of giving more than we get (Acts 20:33-35; cf. Luke 13:6-9). So even when the company, the people, and the job frustrate us, we find satisfaction in doing our part well. Because to "enjoy life" means pouring "your might" into "whatever your hand finds to do" (Eccl. 9:9-10).
So we work to fulfill our purpose; not just for a paycheck or proof of our worth. We were "created for good works" (Eph. 2:8-10), and doing good work is a good work (Eph. 6:5-9; 1 Tim. 5:8-14). All work is holy when we offer it to God — we're "serving the Lord Christ" (Col. 3:22-24) while making widgets, folding laundry, or doing math homework.
The Big Question
How does your work change when you see it as a gift from God?
