God’s Work

“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NLT

There is a tendency amongst Christians to believe that to do God’s work, you have to go to a mission field in deepest darkest Africa, or become a minister of religion. Add to these expectations those who work for a Christian charity, or those who are youth pastors or evangelists, and the picture emerges of a “them and us” culture, separating those who “work” for God and those who don’t. This point of view is bolstered a little by Paul writing about himself and Apollos being “God’s workers” and the ordinary people being “God’s field” and “God’s building”. Is this an accurate distinction or is Paul still thinking of an earlier verse which reads, “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1). What was the problem with these Corinthians? Paul had no doubt that they were saved, as we read in chapter 1, but they seemed to be in a passive “feed me” state, unwilling to move on and become workers themselves.

God wants all believers to be “workers”, as we read from Ephesians 2:10. “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“. This verse, and others, imply that God has a job for each one of us. We get the same picture, but from a different perspective, from Colossians 3:23-24, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ“. In Philippians 2:12b-13 we read, “ … Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him”. And of course we remember two other verses in Ephesians 2, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no-one can boast“.

There is a whole range of opinions about “doing God’s work” across the denominations. Some Christians believe that they will indeed ensure their salvation by “good works”, so they devote some of their spare time to charity work, such as one person I know who works for a food bank. I have met some people who are not even believers in an overt sense, but who believe that God, if such a Being exists, will be kind to them when they die because they are “good” people. Other Christians at the other end of the spectrum don’t believe they should do anything for God at all, instead believing that God’s grace is sufficient. Some people who have retired from their secular jobs and who are now “senior citizens” believe that their final years are free from any sort of “work”, whether it is for God or anyone else. But the reality is that we are all “God’s workers” even if we do not have a “religious” job. No matter what age we are, from the youngest to the oldest, there is still “work” to do. Was it Billy Graham’s wife who had a sign above the kitchen sink, “God is worshipped here three times a day”?

So what “work” must we pilgrims do in our everyday Christian lives? The opportunities are wide and far-reaching, but we must start with ourselves. We cannot just “rest on our laurels” waiting for that day when we are translated into Heaven. I don’t know about you, dear readers, but I want to hear Jesus say to me “well done …”. Will that happen if I fail to do “do the good things he planned for [me] long ago”(Ephesians 2:10)? So here are a few ideas:

• Study and follow the teachings of the Bible, striving to live according to its principles. When was the last time any of us picked up a copy of the Bible and started to read it, perhaps following a reading or study plan? And if we did, how did we apply what we learnt?
• Worship God, both privately and in the presence of other Christians. I’m writing this today on a Monday morning. Did I go to church yesterday? I know it is not always possible, but was yesterday a day when we turned over in bed and had just a few more hours? The devil doesn’t want us to go to church because he knows we might be strengthened spiritually by the experience, confounding his desires and causing him hassles.
• What do I do for my neighbour? Jesus said, ” … ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39). So if we’re able, perhaps we can find things we can do for a person living close by, who perhaps can’t do things for themselves. Like organising some shopping, or putting out their garbage bin. Or even just devoting some time to be with a lonely person, desperate for human company. In my regular prayer walks I meet some miserable people desperate for a kind and cheery word. To speak with them is doing “God’s work”. And just in case, I carry a couple of tracts in my pocket that might provide hope for the hopeless and lost.
• In the same way, Christians are called to serve others, demonstrating love through practical actions, including helping those in need. This is a follow-up on the previous point, and some pilgrims will have the opportunity to devote more time and energy to a wider part of society.
• How about sharing the Gospel? That is mostly what Paul did on his missionary journeys. There is nothing difficult about sharing our faith, and we must all be ready to do so. 1 Peter 3:15, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it“. Jesus Himself gave a command to all of His disciples, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). This command from our Lord is not just for the missionaries and ministers in our churches. All believers are included. But note that last few words from Jesus,  “I am with you always, even to the end of the age”. He won’t abandon us when we do His work.
• Whatever we do for a living, do it to the Lord. That’s a hard one, I know, with some jobs and the bosses that go with them leaving a lot to be desired.

These are a few thoughts about being “God’s workers”. Not conclusive, I know, but we pray for God’s guidance through His Spirit in our daily lives. And we remember what Jeremiah wrote, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Whatever God has for us, we can be assured that it is tailor-made just for us, a bespoke plan of service fully in line with our own particular character, personality and gifting. And in that security, we can relax. We don’t have to strive and fret about what we should be doing. We don’t need to look at other people and wish that we had their gifts. God knows all about us, and His loving, gentle request is just waiting for us to respond with, “Yes, Lord”. That’s all He asks.

Dear Lord Jesus. We know that You are the ultimate “boss”, always ready to encourage and bless us. As we go about our daily business, we know that You are there with us, guiding us in Your ways. Amen.