Work, 1 September 2024
01 09 24 Filed in: Sermons
For the LORD: Finding Purpose in Your Work
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 1, 2024
Matthew 25:31-46; Colossians 3:23-25
Big Idea: Whatever we do—including work—can be an act of worship for the LORD.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:23-25
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Tell your neighbor.
How many of you actually became that? Around 50% to 70% of college graduates work in jobs directly related to their field of study. Students, that doesn’t mean your degree will be useless, but you might be doing something different twenty years from now than you expect today.
That’s certainly my situation! In high school, my plan was to be a professional musician. I went to business school to avoid becoming a starving artist. Today I’m a pastor! Go figure! By the way, I’m delighted to serve as your pastor, even though it was not in my imagination when I was in college.
On this Labor Day weekend, we’re talking about work and the Bible has a lot to say about it.
To many, work is a bad word. It’s a four-letter word! It conjures up images of an angry boss, low pay, dangerous conditions, or long hours. The first thing I want you to understand is work was God’s idea and we will work in heaven.
“Work in heaven? Are you kidding me? I thought heaven was going to be wonderful?”
One definition of work states, “Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.” The opposite of that would be…social media!
The reason I know we work in heaven is because there was work before Adam and Even disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit in the first pages of the Bible, an event we call the Fall. What was their work?
So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. (Genesis 2:19-20a, NLT)
I know naming animals might not sound like an awful job, but it certainly fits the definition of work. It might not describe toil. There’s a difference.
There will be work in heaven, but not toil. Toil is work which involves drudgery, pain, fatigue, and/or exhaustion. It entered our world as a result of the Fall, punishment for sin. God said to Adam,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:17-19, NLT)
That’s toil. If that describes your work, I’m sorry, though it surely has a purpose…even if it’s to get you to search for a better job!
We all work. We might not receive a paycheck for our work. We might have to pay others—such as universities—in order to accomplish our work! We may be underpaid for our work. But we all work. Here’s the big idea:
Whatever we do—including work—can be an act of worship for the LORD.
Paul wrote to a church in modern day Turkey and said,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:23-25, NIV)
Wow! There’s a lot there. But I want to you see the context. The previous verse says,
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. (Colossians 4:22, NIV)
Paul is not promoting slavery—and this was not identical to the slavery in this country—but was saying even their work should be done for the LORD. Let’s go back—or forward—to verse 23.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
Whatever you do. Work for the LORD. Play for the LORD. Study for the LORD. Vacation for the LORD! Eat ice cream for the LORD! There’s no moment when a follower of Jesus is to take a break from God. We are to pray without ceasing. We are pick up our cross daily and follow Christ.
You were made by God.
You were made for God.
You were made for God’s glory. This includes your labor.
Many years ago, my mentor, Dieter Zander, introduced me to a small book read by millions. Sales are unknown because it’s been in the public domain for centuries, continuously in print for over 300 years and now available in many languages. Nicholas Herman took the religious name “Lawrence of the Resurrection” when he joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites monastery in Paris where he worked in the kitchen and later repaired sandals. The book Practicing the Presence of God is a collection of his writings while doing menial tasks, all for the glory of God. He said,
We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.
He was devoted to loving God through his work. Work as worship. He understood what it means to “pray without ceasing.”
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.
Surely it was that conversation with God that centered him, brought him into alignment with his Creator, and oriented his life to serving God rather than humans. To quote our own pastor David Welker,
If God has a claim on your life, he has a claim on your work. - David Welker
I wonder what would happen if we washed dishes for God, mowed the lawn for God, went to class for God, rested on the Sabbath for God, taught children for God, played music for God, ate and drank for God, …
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
I’m afraid too often we do things for ourselves. We work for a paycheck, volunteer for recognition, go through the motions to please others, …
I’m not saying settle in an abusive situation, but I am saying ultimately “it is the Lord Christ you are serving” each day, including our work. Actually, I’m not saying it. Paul said it!
Jesus once told a story about the sheep and the goats, timely during this county fair weekend!
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (Matthew 25:31-33)
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36)
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (Matthew 25:37-39)
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)
The verses that follow tell the opposite story, that of those who did not serve the needy, concluding
…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:45)
So What?
God is with us peeling potatoes. He is the one we are serving when we volunteer at City Mission. He’s the one watching us when we go back to work or school on Tuesday.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
How would you behave if God was next to you this week? He is! He’s watching. Others are watching. They’re paying attention to our attitude, our effort, our concern for others, our language, and our character. How are we doing?
One More Thing
Shortly after beginning a part-time job as music director at a church, I went to my dad to ask his forgiveness. He asked, “For what?” I said, “I used to think real Christians were pastors and you worked in the marketplace. I now realize it would be just as wrong for you to become a pastor as it would be for me to enter the marketplace. We are called to different things.”
It’s not about one job being more spiritual or special, but obeying God and working for the LORD, whether it’s as a musician, a student, in business, or as a pastor. For the LORD!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 1, 2024
Matthew 25:31-46; Colossians 3:23-25
Big Idea: Whatever we do—including work—can be an act of worship for the LORD.
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:23-25
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Tell your neighbor.
How many of you actually became that? Around 50% to 70% of college graduates work in jobs directly related to their field of study. Students, that doesn’t mean your degree will be useless, but you might be doing something different twenty years from now than you expect today.
That’s certainly my situation! In high school, my plan was to be a professional musician. I went to business school to avoid becoming a starving artist. Today I’m a pastor! Go figure! By the way, I’m delighted to serve as your pastor, even though it was not in my imagination when I was in college.
On this Labor Day weekend, we’re talking about work and the Bible has a lot to say about it.
To many, work is a bad word. It’s a four-letter word! It conjures up images of an angry boss, low pay, dangerous conditions, or long hours. The first thing I want you to understand is work was God’s idea and we will work in heaven.
“Work in heaven? Are you kidding me? I thought heaven was going to be wonderful?”
One definition of work states, “Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.” The opposite of that would be…social media!
The reason I know we work in heaven is because there was work before Adam and Even disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit in the first pages of the Bible, an event we call the Fall. What was their work?
So the LORD God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. (Genesis 2:19-20a, NLT)
I know naming animals might not sound like an awful job, but it certainly fits the definition of work. It might not describe toil. There’s a difference.
There will be work in heaven, but not toil. Toil is work which involves drudgery, pain, fatigue, and/or exhaustion. It entered our world as a result of the Fall, punishment for sin. God said to Adam,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:17-19, NLT)
That’s toil. If that describes your work, I’m sorry, though it surely has a purpose…even if it’s to get you to search for a better job!
We all work. We might not receive a paycheck for our work. We might have to pay others—such as universities—in order to accomplish our work! We may be underpaid for our work. But we all work. Here’s the big idea:
Whatever we do—including work—can be an act of worship for the LORD.
Paul wrote to a church in modern day Turkey and said,
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:23-25, NIV)
Wow! There’s a lot there. But I want to you see the context. The previous verse says,
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. (Colossians 4:22, NIV)
Paul is not promoting slavery—and this was not identical to the slavery in this country—but was saying even their work should be done for the LORD. Let’s go back—or forward—to verse 23.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
Whatever you do. Work for the LORD. Play for the LORD. Study for the LORD. Vacation for the LORD! Eat ice cream for the LORD! There’s no moment when a follower of Jesus is to take a break from God. We are to pray without ceasing. We are pick up our cross daily and follow Christ.
You were made by God.
You were made for God.
You were made for God’s glory. This includes your labor.
Many years ago, my mentor, Dieter Zander, introduced me to a small book read by millions. Sales are unknown because it’s been in the public domain for centuries, continuously in print for over 300 years and now available in many languages. Nicholas Herman took the religious name “Lawrence of the Resurrection” when he joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites monastery in Paris where he worked in the kitchen and later repaired sandals. The book Practicing the Presence of God is a collection of his writings while doing menial tasks, all for the glory of God. He said,
We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.
He was devoted to loving God through his work. Work as worship. He understood what it means to “pray without ceasing.”
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.
Surely it was that conversation with God that centered him, brought him into alignment with his Creator, and oriented his life to serving God rather than humans. To quote our own pastor David Welker,
If God has a claim on your life, he has a claim on your work. - David Welker
I wonder what would happen if we washed dishes for God, mowed the lawn for God, went to class for God, rested on the Sabbath for God, taught children for God, played music for God, ate and drank for God, …
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
I’m afraid too often we do things for ourselves. We work for a paycheck, volunteer for recognition, go through the motions to please others, …
I’m not saying settle in an abusive situation, but I am saying ultimately “it is the Lord Christ you are serving” each day, including our work. Actually, I’m not saying it. Paul said it!
Jesus once told a story about the sheep and the goats, timely during this county fair weekend!
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (Matthew 25:31-33)
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:34-36)
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (Matthew 25:37-39)
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:40)
The verses that follow tell the opposite story, that of those who did not serve the needy, concluding
…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:45)
So What?
God is with us peeling potatoes. He is the one we are serving when we volunteer at City Mission. He’s the one watching us when we go back to work or school on Tuesday.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)
How would you behave if God was next to you this week? He is! He’s watching. Others are watching. They’re paying attention to our attitude, our effort, our concern for others, our language, and our character. How are we doing?
One More Thing
Shortly after beginning a part-time job as music director at a church, I went to my dad to ask his forgiveness. He asked, “For what?” I said, “I used to think real Christians were pastors and you worked in the marketplace. I now realize it would be just as wrong for you to become a pastor as it would be for me to enter the marketplace. We are called to different things.”
It’s not about one job being more spiritual or special, but obeying God and working for the LORD, whether it’s as a musician, a student, in business, or as a pastor. For the LORD!