Christians & work by Stephen Coffin

“Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it – because it does!” (1Corinthians 14v1 The message)
“Over all these virtues put on love…” (Colossians 3v14 NIV)
How can we ensure that love is at the heart of everything in our work? How can we keep our love for God at full strength in our work (Revelation 2v2-5) ?

The three calls of work (according to Howard’s exposition of Genesis 1) are to:

• Enjoy communion with God
• Build community with others
• Express our God-given creativity

We are called to bring order to the chaos around us and imitate God’s creative work.
Look at the story of Joseph (Genesis 39-41) as an example of the right approach to work.

In Colossians 3v14-4v2 St Paul gives us guidelines for Christian living, applicable to work.

• v.15 We should try to live in peaceful harmony with everyone – colleagues, bosses, those under us.
• v.15 We should have a thankful outlook, even in difficult circumstances, considering God’s love to us.
• v.16 The teachings of Jesus should guide our conduct, so we need to commit them to memory.
• v.17 We should act as representatives of Jesus, asking ourselves what he’d do in our place.
• v.19-21 Loving attitudes should fill our hearts, as we obey those set over us, and deal gently with those under us.
• v.22 We should work hard for those who employ us, giving our best, not only when we’re being watched.
• v.23-24 We should work as if we were working for God, or serving Jesus.
• v.1 We should treat those who work for us fairly, including those whom we indirectly employ by our purchasing.
• v.2 Pray all the time, being attentive to what’s going on, and thankful (not least for the Holy Spirit’s presence with you).

How do these thoughts apply to your daily work? (Whether you are paid, volunteers, home-makers, students, job seekers, retired, whatever.)

We should work to provide for ourselves (2 Thessalonians 3:10-13) and our families (1 Timothy 5:8) but also “to have something to share with the needy” (Ephesians 4:28 NRSV).

• Ideally we should work doing things which suit our talents, but we should avoid idleness (2 Thessalonians 3v6-13).
• The bible recognises that work can be hard, unfulfilling, even frustrating (Ecclesiastes 2v10-11; Genesis 3v17-19), but it also insists that we should work, and promises that God will bless us if we work faithfully (Deuteronomy 13v10; 30v9-10).
• The bible does not exalt the “spiritual” over the material, but invites us to integrate the two. Thus all work (not just certain “vocations”) is seen as a response to God’s calling, and the sphere in which we are to be “salt” & “light” to others (Matthew 5v13-16).
• The story of Martha & Mary (Luke 10v38-42) does not value listening to Jesus above service & labour, but calls for a right balance of these. This includes keeping one day per week sacred for rest and worship (Exodus 20v9; Deuteronomy 5v13-15).

• We have a responsibility to review the work we are doing and its outcomes.
• We should try to influence our work to have beneficial outcomes for everyone (investors, workers, consumers).
• We should try to ensure our work has a beneficial impact on the environment.
• We should try to change or stop any work which damages the world, workers or consumers.
• If we cannot change negative working practices, such as these above, we should be willing to resign and seek other work.
• Whilst we should obey our employers in all things legal, we must oppose them if they are proposing courses of action of which God would not approve. This may cost us our job!

“Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” (Colossians 3v17 The Message) This should be our attitude in our work, and if anything we are doing is not consistent with this approach, we need to change it or stop it.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12v2 NIV) We must be willing to be different, where that is what God asks of us, including in our work and especially in our consumption. There is a real danger that materialism can suck us into its false religion.

• Is there anything in your work that you’d be ashamed to show Jesus? Why? Should you change this? How? If you cannot, should you change your work?
• How can you have a thankful attitude in your work?
• How can you be humble and look out for the good of others without putting yourself down?
• How can you be “salt” & “light” in your work?
• How can you be a good witness for Jesus in your actions & words at work?
• How can you get the right balance so you are not a workaholic, nor a time server?
• Are you making one day a week a Sabbath for rest and spiritual regeneration?
• Do you pray every day about your work, its opportunities and challenges?
• Do you pray regularly for those with whom you work?
• Do you think about the impact your purchasing decisions has on those who work to produce & distribute what you consume?