The Ministry of Work..."Boredom is our chief occupational work."

In today’s economy, work is lucky to be found, blessed to be found by those of faith. Yet, these jobs are, many times, filling us full of anger, resentment, and bitterness due to the desperately desired needs of those in search. We accept jobs that we never saw ourselves doing. Going to college to be a teacher, yet unable to retain a job after. We say I need this; I have to do this… but is there something more? Has God really wanted me to resign to this? This worthless job, in which it does nothing but gives me cash and leaves me with emptiness. As Christians, are we not called to a higher standard in our work? How do these worthless, unfulfilling jobs fit into God’s plan for us? “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11). Where is this plan that will prosper me and not harm me? Where is the hope and future I so desperately need? Is boredom and unfulfilment the only life for me? No, I believe that we can still rely on the loving understanding of the Father. A people created in Christ to do good works which were already plans God prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). As Christians, even in amidst of these jobs that we think will never get us where we need to be (teaching turned burger flipper), we are still required to set an example for the unbeliever and encourage those already in the faith.

The witness made in regular employment may be far more significant and productive than any service rendered in free time (Trueblood, Your Other Vocation, 57).

When faced with the unexpected choices that come from daily work, we notice that we,many times, have a better chance for ministry than if we set out to do ministry. How is this seen by others? 1) Devoted Work “Devoted work is the very flesh and bone of living religion, without which worship cannot live and grow.” Professor Robert L. Calhoun (Yale University) The Bible teaches that everything is done for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10: 31) but do we uphold this standard? Regardless of how boring it is, or unfulfilling it is? 2) Work not about yourself but about the good of others. Work aimed towards how much you can make or when you get off causes us to focus on the unfullfillment of the job. “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (Ephesians 10:24) When work though is done by thinking of others, such as our managers, the people we work with and especially customers we see little things that can be done that changes our attitude and others around us. Turning this “job” into a ministry to others. Also, this reflects a worshipping heart, wanting to please God in every way. When something is not set out to be a ministry, than we are given the choice to promote worship by our very decisions. How we work affects our labor results, and affects the way people view us. Your occupation (job) should be seen as a chance for ministry. Trueblood states in his book, Your Other Vocation, that:

"Of all precious elements in God’s world, men and women are most precious, because they share something of the divine life, particularly in the capacity to be creative. Toil then becomes holy, because it is by toil that men can prove themselves creatures made in God’s image. The Bible story begins with emphasis on God as worker, in making the world and then stresses the creation of man in God’s image. If God is the worker, then men and women, in order to fulfill their potentialities, must be workers too. They are sharing in creation when they develop a farm, paint a picture, build a home or polish a floor.”

Now all common work is to be done for the glory of God and used to properly set an example. By using common work for God, we have an opportunity to become fulfilled in Christ and to be a witness to others. This which is a ministry in itself.