My work is holy too...

As someone who grew up in a religious family that attended church regularly, I had the unspoken understanding that if I wasn’t a pastor or someone serving as a volunteer in some critical role in the church, I was of lesser value within the Christian community pecking
order.  But as I got older, I realized this is simply not true and that the work of a Christian is much more than what takes place on the sabbath.      

The Bible teaches that work in and of itself is holy.  Before the curse (not a result of it), one aspect of God's original plan for Adam was to labor in the garden of Eden.  Mankind was wired for work to be part of our existence   When we do what we are created for, it gives glory to God.  In the movie "Chariots of Fire," Eric Liddell's father told him that "You can praise the Lord by peeling a spud, if you peel it to perfection."       

Jesus, as far as we know, was just a carpenter until he began his ministry in his late 20s.  He lived roughly 27-30 years of his life, out of the spotlight, before the three years of ministry outlined in the gospels.  Was Jesus any less holy or "in God’s will" during the years he wasn’t actively in “ministry?”  Of course not.  He was completely in God’s will every moment of his life.  So it must be “ok” with God for someone to be “just” a carpenter or employed in some other so called “mundane” job.

We are free to have "unspiritual" employment and shouldn't feel guilty for not being in a more "holy" job.  God can and does want to receive glory from each of us in our every day lives.  According to Ephesians 4:11-12, church leadership is supposed to equip regular Christians to do work as members of the body of Christ.  I don’t think it means just spiritual work within the scope of the church, but also work in life, outside the context of the organized church.  Do you think of your current position as one that is fully devoted to and gives glory to God?       

Image courtesy of podpad at FreeDigitalPhotos.net