[This is the Sixth and Final Message in a series of 'Work and work-issues' Devotionals begun on Oct.6]


 Rev.22:3-5-  “And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” --NKJV

The book of Revelation initially targeted first-century Christians who were persecuted for their faith. Many of these Christians experienced harassment and intimidation and imprisonment; or were put to death in ghastly fashion. Nevertheless, they were summoned to stand for Jesus and to represent Him in a frequently hostile world, much of which was under the political authority of the Roman Empire.

The visions in Revelation consoled and energized them and reminded them of a Savior-King vastly superior to any human leader or vicious government. They were assured that their present hardships and miseries would not be everlasting. They were Divinely promised that all pain, and possibility of pain, would be removed. They were guaranteed a fabulous vocation and victory.
 “There shall be no more curse.” This agrees with the guarantee that “there will be no more death nor sorrow nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev.21:4b)

No more pain. No more anguish or misery or frustration of any kind. No more job application forms. No more demoralizing job interviews where candidates are told they’re either too young or too old, either too inexperienced or overqualified. No more ‘wrong’ people being promoted to lofty positions while righteous persons of integrity are overlooked. No more spiteful office politics, smear campaigns and corporate power struggles. No more outsourcing or mergers where long-time employees are cut away during a transition period.

Such happenings will be absent in heaven. C.S.Lewis once remarked that the multitudes of heaven will be 'perpetually employed in praising God.' That will be the destiny of every authentic Christian.

“His servants shall serve Him.”  Activity and service will occur in heaven (as Rev.22:3 makes clear), but such employment will never involve persecution or malice or gossip of any kind. No servant of Christ will be browbeaten or bullied in heaven. Labor Unions will no longer be necessary because no laborer will ever be oppressed or exploited.

Col.3:24a refers to a personal future inheritance given by the Lord. No mention is made of ‘competing’ for this reward. (Competition is not such a grand thing, if you are frequently on the losing end of it).  One of the beauties of the Christian faith  is that many of those who are viewed as being ‘losers’ in this world have a heavenly citizenship given to them ((Phil.3:18-21; See also Luke 16:19-26). And: Those who receive this inheritance will serve the Lord Jesus Christ together, using their glorified abilities to the praise of God’s glory.

In the heavenly estate, Christians will be divested of every gruesome particle of sin, and everything will be made new and wonderful.  There will be employment in heaven, to be sure, but it will be perpetual employment of the finest variety.

"..and they shall reign forever and ever." Not merely exist. Not simply pass through a corridor of the time-space continuum. But, reign. Our heavenly employment will always be centered upon the Supreme and Sinless Ruler Who owns and loves and upholds His people.  “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.”—2 Tim.2:12a.
 
 


 

[This is the Fifth Message in a series of 'Work and work-issues' Devotionals begun on Oct.6]


Key Verse-
Matthew 20:25-26a- “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you…” (NKJV)

 
In a two episode arc of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, Edward Gellico temporarily replaced Jean-Luc Picard as Captain of the Starship Enterprise. Gellico’s style of leadership was blunt and dictatorial. His commands were accompanied by remarks such as: “I don’t want to hear about it. Just get it done.” First Officer William Riker had to deal with an avalanche of complaints from the crew about Gellico’s tyrannical tendencies. Riker eventually locked horns with Gellico---and was relieved of command. Shortly after that, however, Gellico needed Riker to fly a dangerous shuttle craft mission. He visited Riker’s quarters to make the request. Such is the backdrop for one of the classic dialogues of the small screen:
 
Gellico- “Let’s drop ranks for a moment. I don’t like you. I think you’re insubordinate, arrogant, willful; and I don’t think you’re a particularly good First Officer. But, you are the best shuttlecraft pilot on this ship."

Riker- “As long as the ranks are dropped…I don’t like you, either. You are arrogant. And closed-minded! You need to control everything and everyone. You don’t provide an atmosphere of trust, and you don’t inspire these men to go out of their way for you. You’ve got everyone wound up so tight, there’s no joy in anything. I don’t think you’re a particularly good Captain.”


Riker went on to fly a successful mission, Picard resumed Command of the Enterprise, but not before Riker had voiced his conviction that Edward Gellico was a particularly bad boss.
 

Perhaps, you’ve known a few particularly bad bosses. They refuse to listen to what their subordinates try to tell them. They are control-freaks who lord it over their employees. They dogmatically and very often communicate: “It’s my way or the highway. If you don’t like this job, I’ll find someone who does.”
 
Jesus told His disciples: “It shall not be so among you.”

Granted, Jesus was talking to His disciples about doing ministry. Yet, ministry entails work, and the principles of a Christian work ethic also apply to a secular work environment.  If Christian workers are to be dependable and productive laborers, then Christian bosses are to be Christ-honoring in their leadership.

How is this fleshed out in a work environment?

For one thing, Christian bosses are to refrain from evaluating their subordinates as commodities to be exploited or easily replaced.  People are human beings, not assets or raw material.
 True: Jesus challenged His disciples, and occasionally He rebuked them. But He never once referred to His followers as 'human resources'.

Additionally, Jesus cited the Second Greatest Commandment "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt.22:39).  At the Corporate level, Christian Managers are aware that their subordinates are also their neighbors rather than faceless nonentities or just numbers in a database.

A particularly Christian boss may be forced to reprimand or even fire some employees—but won’t do this with an attitude of sadistic joy or from a disposition that grinds people down.

Particularly Christian bosses resist the temptation to abuse or devalue their employees. They loathe the sleazy intimidation tactics, strident yelling and public ridicule which are so prevalent in this broken world. Their leadership style is characterized by fairness and compassion.

Furthermore, particularly Christian bosses recognize their own need for Divine grace: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23). They therefore pray for God’s guidance and grace upon them in their decision-making and leadership.

And: They take to heart Scriptural references such as these:

  Prov.18:13- "He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him."

Eph.6:9- “Masters…give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”

Matt.7:12- "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (NAS)
 
 
 
 

[This is the Fourth message in a series of 'Work and Work-issues'  Devotionals begun on Oct.6]


Key verses:

Eccles.9:10a--"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might..” (NAS)
Col.3:23-24- "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." (NKJV)


Numerous Americans hate their jobs.  We're not referring to varied frustrations and occasional annoyances connected with a job. We're dealing with the reality that many Americans---by their own admission--- HATE what they do vocationally. A related complaint from employees is that they feel scorned by some of their coworkers.
 
Nevertheless---How hard we work isn’t primarily based on how we feel.

In his Bible Exposition Commentary on Eccles.9:10, Warren Wiersbe remarked: “The Jewish people looked upon work, not as a curse, but as a stewardship from God. Even their rabbis learned a trade (Paul was a tentmaker) and reminded them, ‘He who does not teach a son to work, teaches him to steal.’ Paul wrote, "If any would not work, neither should he eat" (2 Thess. 3:10).
"Do it with all your might" suggests two things: Do your very best, and do it while you still have strength. The day may come when you will have to lay down your tools and make way for a younger and stronger worker. “
 
In other words: Give it your best shot, while you still can.
 
There are times when you may need to leave a job based on ethical considerations or because you may collapse from exhaustion if you don’t leave. There are other contexts in which God may want you to remain at a job, despite your revulsion for it. It is unwise to make sweeping judgments or declarations binding on every Christian in every work environment.
 
That  said----If you are currently working at a job you detest, and are unable to secure another one despite maximum effort, then take that as a likely indication (at least for the short term) that you are where God wants you to be.  Envision your employment as for the Lord rather than for those coworkers who may care little about you. Give it your best shot and dedicate your on-the job energies to the glory of God, reminding yourself that you ultimately serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 
 

[This is the Third message in a series of 'Work and Work-issues' devotionals begun on Oct.6]


Key verse: Col.3:22a- “Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters.”  (ESV)

One might argue that the context of 1st Century A.D.Roman slavery was significantly different than that of 21st century corporate America.  I would suggest: If you are not able to set your own hours or your own pay scale and work at your own pace without outside pressure or coercion, then you are in an economic condition of some servitude.   
Certainly this is true for members of the U.S.Military.  Although seasoned military personnel may have a measure of influence as to their location and schedule, they are still subordinate to the military structure and answerable to military authorities.
Even 'self-employed' persons have to please other persons with their work.  If self-employed individuals consistently disappoint their clients/customers---or sneer at their demands--- they will find themselves unemployed eventually.

Centuries ago, the Baptist preacher John Gill spoke of the duty which Christians should render to their human masters: “Do it heartily, not by mere force and necessity, or grudgingly, with murmurings, but from the heart, and with good will, having a true and hearty affection for masters, having their good and interest at heart, and a delight [at being] in their service.”
 
The top priority for the Christian worker is to discharge God-ordained labor to the glory of God, to labor vocationally as a thank-offering to the Creator--- that is, to work as an expression of worship to the One Who has endowed us with the capacity to work in the first place. At the same time, though, we are to be dependable, productive laborers rather than defiant rebels to our human bosses. Christian workers are not to continually ignore and mock our supervisors and employers.
 
The principle is repeated in Eph.6:5-8— “ Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.  With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.” (NAS)

[This is the Second message in a series of 'Work and Work-issues' devotionals begun on Oct.6]


Key verses:  Col.3:23- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.." (ESV)
 Mark 6:31a- “And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” (NKJV)


Some Americans love their work more than they love their friends, their families—or God.
 
I think it was Chuck Swindoll who wrote: “We Americans of today have inverted values: We worship our work, we work at our play, and we play at our worship.”  If laziness is a sub-Christian attribute, so is frenzied workaholism.
 
Christ’s people are not called to worship our work; rather, we are to worship our Lord in the wholehearted performance of our work.  "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” –Col.3:17.

Furthermore: Perpetual work without rest is contrary to Scripture.

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work.” (Ex.20:9-10a; See also Ex.31:15).
 In collective and societal terms, we might defend seven days of necessary work (such as law enforcement and critical health care), but we cannot argue from Scripture that it is God’s Will for human individuals to work every day without time off for rest and worship.

 "Do not overwork to be rich."---Prov.23:4a (NKJV)

Bear in mind that no New Testament passage presents workaholism as a viable, God-honoring lifestyle. Consider the language of Col.3:23- “Work heartily”,  not “Work continually.”
  
In point of fact, the New Testament teaches a balance between work and rest and worship. According to Mark 6:31, Jesus commanded His disciples to go to a deserted place and get some rest.  In Luke 5, Jesus worked miracles and cured a leper. Crowds of people gathered to hear Jesus and to be healed by Him. But v.16 sounds almost jarring to our 21st century ears: “So He [Jesus] Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” The Son of God ‘often’ withdrew from viable and important ministry, so He could prayerfully worship. And: Jesus did more than ‘play at worship.’
 
You cannot shoehorn Jesus’ ministry  into a defense of the 24/7 workaholic lifestyle.
 
May God grant to the people of Jesus the wisdom to balance our work, rest and worship as we devote ourselves to His glory, on the job and away from it.
 

Scr.-Col.3:22-24.
 Key verse:  Col.3:23- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.."   (ESV)



The book of Proverbs is loaded with blunt remarks against laziness. Observe:  Prov.19:15- "Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger." According to Prov.26:13- "The lazy man says 'There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion is in the streets.' " Then, in v.15, we are informed: "The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it to his mouth." That is some major-league laziness!

We read in Prov.13, the start of v.4- "The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing."  A person may set high goals---and then continually avoid all effort to achieve those goals. In fact, some individuals believe their ‘career’ is to live off the government and the Church on a permanent basis (I’ve written more extensively about this in the article ‘Selective Benevolence Rationale’).
 
"Even when we were with you, we commanded you this, if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." (2 Thess.3:10). Paul describes here a persistent refusal to work. Granted, obtaining and keeping a job can be a big challenge in today’s competitive economic arena.  That said---All Christians should remember that the trait of laziness is not admirable. Whether employed or not, Christians are summoned by God to be industrious, diligent people. It is one thing to search for work and remain unemployed; it is quite another thing to reject all opportunities for fruitful labor and personal productivity.

Notice the wording of Col.3:23- "Whatever you do" instead of "Whatever you never get around to doing"; "Work heartily" rather than "Heartily attempt to shun every possibility of work." Furthermore, this sentence comes shortly after the directive of v.17- “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” This presupposes that you will do some work or activity which will honor God in the Name of His Son.
 
The ideal is put forth in 1 Thess.4:9-12- “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,  and to aspire to lead a quiet life, and to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you,  so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”   (NKJV)