People often tell me they want to work for God but don’t want to be a pastor or an evangelist. This is totally understandable, funny, and misdirected. I know this because I was one of those people.
I used to think working for God was about serving in the church.
I thought all I ‘owed’ God, as a Christian, was to be a church worker and to volunteer with charities. So, I served in different capacities, doing my own quota in the Body of Christ or so I thought.
But looking back, there were a few things I noticed.
- I don’t remember ever asking God where he wanted me to serve. I would usually choose a church department that I thought suited my lifestyle and didn’t require too much of me.
- I chose charities I was interested in but often wasn’t as committed.
It has taken me a few years to finally learn that:
‘Working or serving in a church does not mean you are working for God.
Nor does working or serving outside the church mean you’re not working for God.’
Church work is not always synonymous with godly work.
What is godly work?
I define godly work as a calling, an instruction, or a directive from God made known to man (by the power of the Holy Spirit) to do something.’
When God made man, there was an instruction to be and to do:
“Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us…then God bless them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
Genesis 1:26,28 (emphasis mine)
The original plan was for mankind to conquer and dominate, not according to their own way but God’s way.
Ephesians 2:10 further confirms this:
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Through the death and resurrection of our savior, Jesus Christ, we were brought back into God’s original plan as mentioned in Genesis 1:26-28.
The above scriptures point to one fact:
“The work of the servant has to originate from his master.”
As I mentioned in the introduction to this post, God is not limited to church walls. A few weeks ago, I set out over 20 things God did in the Bible that are considered secular work, today. Most of these were not religion-based works.
I reiterate this so we don’t limit God to our idea of religion. God is God. You can read the post here
God of Wonders
There are no boundaries to what God can do in and through us and it is the servant’s responsibility to obey absolutely.
Imagine this, we are not just God’s servants, we are His children, his co-heirs and kings.
God has given us unobstructed access to Him, through His son, Jesus Christ, and He wants us to willingly give of ourselves.
At the heart of God’s gift is His love.
A love that is unconditional, immovable, and everlasting.
The work of the servant can only be possible from a place of surrender, a surrender to this love.
The servant must surrender and let go of her:
- Ways –
“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.”
Proverbs 16:2
- Plans
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3
- Desires
“Take delight in the lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4
- Needs
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:33(NLT)
- Self
“If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
Luke 9:23(NKJV)
A story of God’s servant: Moses
“Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. He looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.”
Exodus 2:11-12
Moses had tried to save his people his way. He meant well but it was not God’s way.
What about you, what’s your story?
The Power of a deep-rooted relationship
I know I have said a lot about working for God, perhaps you are now perspiring, trying to digest this information.
Beyond everything I have said, I need you to know that the most important thing is not the work but the relationship.
Our relationship with God matters more for everything flows from a place of relationship.
If we get too focused on the work, we may lose sight of spending time with the master.
God wants us to do good works but this must flow from our communion with Him and more so, he doesn’t leave us to figure things out our way but is there with us, every step of the way.
James Hudson Taylor, a medical missionary to China in the 19th century shared this:
“It is always helpful to us to fix our attention on the God-ward aspect of Christian work: to realize that the work of God does not mean so much man’s work for God as God’s own work through man…we should never lose sight of the higher aspect of our work – that of obedience to God, of bringing glory to His Name, of gladdening the heart of our God and Father by living and serving as His beloved children.”
James Hudson Taylor, A Retrospect
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