Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Sept/72

Contributor - Eric J. Schulze

Title - Labor For the Lord

Topic - Work

Proverbs 3 : 6 (Living Bible) - In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.

I Corinthians 10 : 31 (RSV) - whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

"Nobody takes pride in his work anymore!"

"Work is only for those who aren't smart enough to get out of it."

"I feel as if I am only a cog in the wheel." "All I look forward to is sundown and payday."

These various remarks seem to indicate that work is only a curse placed upon man, and that there is no relationship between a man's (or woman's) everyday work and the Kingdom of God.

Many times after a long wait and the spending of a large sum of money, we are disgusted that the quality of workmanship is so poor. Or we may be annoyed at the faulty merchandise, poor customer service, haphazard organization, or a hastily prepared term paper, indicating that people today have no incentive to do a good job at their work or study.

I recently spoke to a building contractor, asking him about his everyday work. He is a man who enjoys his job, works hard at it, and gets a satisfaction out of doing a good job. He is a concerned Christian and a faithful member of a Church. It was inspiring to hear this man talk about his work.

I gained the impression that he accepted his work as a work from God, using his ability and skill to provide something very important to people. This man is not a rich man, but it is evident that he has been blessed with many good things , after having started from nothing.

There are many, however, who take no pride in their work, and regard it only as a necessary evil in order to earn a living. Many of us never really chose a career, we just evolved into the job we now have. Only a very few people are a part of the process of production of goods from beginning to end, enabling them to be proud of their work.

Is it impossible to attempt to do our work "to the glory of God?" Is pride in our work or workmanship only something of the past ? No, many things can happen which make your work and mine a glory to God.

First, many kinds of work still afford us opportunities to produce, repair, or distribute a product that will influence the lives of other people or be a service to them. Seeing what your work does for others often helps to regard it as a service for the Lord.

Second, there is an opportunity to relate to other people on the job, opportunities to serve, to be concerned, to care, as well as be "business-like" about our work.

Third, there still remains the satisfaction of knowing that honesty and integrity are essential parts of the way we work. Indeed, the above Scriptures indicate that we are obliged to consider God as a giver of our work, and his glory as the object of it.

What happens when the Christian does not regard his daily work as part of his Christian stewardship? He then makes at least two categories of his life, namely: this I am doing for the Lord, and that I am doing for myself (or my boss, or my family). While it is good to be doing the work of the Lord on the one hand, yet this implies that the other is not the Lord's work. Are not both the work of the Lord, the so-called religious or church work, and the secular work?

How happy work could be if I could call it my work for God, and my fellow employees could call it their work for God, all done to the glory of our creator, as a service to our fellowman.

God has chosen each of us to significant daily work. One must, therefore, have a wholesome pride about oneself and his capabilities. Also, let each one allow God to continually transform his self into what it can become in work or any other experience of life.

"Lord Jesus Christ, help me to do your work which lies before me to perform."

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