Going in Grace

Brandi Stover (00:06)
Last week, we reminded ourselves that we need to rest and resist the constant grind that is prevalent in our culture. In the beginning, it's hard to implement rest and self-care practices, especially if we've wired our brains, our coworkers, and our families to expect constant work and response due to many years of overwork. How do I know this? Because I am one of the people who has persistently struggled with slowing down my pace of life so that I can truly be present and recharged enough on a daily basis to perform in a manner that I find acceptable.

I will not accept tuning out while the people that I love speak to me, because I've given everyone else all of my words, energy, and connection for the entire day. I will not accept irritability from myself because of unavoidable circumstances like traffic, long lines, late notifications of school cancellations, last minute meeting requests, all because I'm using control as a defense mechanism to manage unchecked stress from a life that's out of balance.

I will not accept the lie that busyness is productivity. Productivity is doing what God wants, when He wants, not my doing what I and everyone else want with no regard for what God's vision is for the day. If you feel the same way, then we need to understand the rhythm of rest and work. Having discussed rest last week, this week, let's talk about how to work God's way.

First, we have to understand that our work for the Lord is a part of every moment of every day because he has asked us to present our entire bodies. Romans 12:1, New King James Version says, I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Like a soldier who awaits orders, we too are to remain ready for instructions, yet peaceful and at ease until we do. Your work for the Lord is not limited to your vocation. In your home, among your family, and in your community, most of us are constantly working. We apply our mental and emotional energy to people, projects, plans, all day, and most of the night.

Most of us are marketplace ministers, as I call it. We may volunteer within our local churches, but we are more broadly in the various realms of our communities and the world's industries. We influence decisions, people, and organizations. We point people towards righteousness, and when the opportunity presents itself, we point people to the peace that comes from a relationship with God. All of these things are a part of our work and we do well to remember that work in the kingdom of God isn't when we clock in to a nine to five for a paycheck.

Work is any meaningful activity that we do to cooperate with God for the glory of God and to help others. Income streams and finances are a result of some of our work, but it's not the totality of it. In our work, we have an opportunity to imitate God and bring him into every facet of our day.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 a New King James Version says, whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might. Note, whatever your hands find to do. So that means everything from washing the dishes to leading an executive leadership retreat for so-called important people. It's all something that we are to do with our might, our strength and our best effort. Work is extremely honorable. We should not feel shame for taking good care of our families and for providing for the well-being of others. 1st Timothy 5:8 reads, but if anyone does not provide for his relatives and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

This scripture in context is referring to women who had become busy bodies and were not working to support themselves and instead were looking to the church for a handout instead of using their skills, talents and abilities to glorify God and supply resources for their homes. That kind of behavior dishonors God. So in understanding work and rest, we see it's not a license to be lazy. So what then? How do we work God's way?

First, we stop seeing work as what we do when we show up to an employer. We view work as a regular part of life that typically is a part of our day from sunrise to bedtime. This will set us free from the lie that we are resting just because we logged off our computer. No, you simply moved from one group of work-related activities to another. Newsflash, some of you haven't stopped working in years unless you were sick because you have turned even your vacations and times of fellowship with others in community into work. You're always planning something. You're always doing something. You're always talking to someone. Noise and movement always.

When you realize that work isn't what happens just when you are at "work", doesn't it get clear why God commands and doesn't just ask us to rest? Though we can glorify God in all that we do, we must fiercely protect our ability to hear from God throughout the day and to manage the fluctuations of life with grace. This is the beginning of approaching work God's way. This is the beginning of approaching work God's way.

Second, we do not over-spiritualize the natural elements of life, which can make us approach our work with the wrong attitude. You are not less of a servant of God because you work in sanitation, or more of a servant of God because you are a full-time pastor. The servants of God are the ones willing to do His work and not just their own throughout their day. God is present everywhere, at all times, and he is ready to use you to influence your sphere of influence. Don't despise picking up trash cans and do a poor job thinking it doesn't glorify God. Just looking at the statistics of health and disease issues in countries with poor sanitation will help you to see how you glorify God daily in helping the nation maintain its health.

Don't work yourself to the bone as if God simply can't be successful in his plans without you, which is a tendency for Christian leaders. Never forget, you are a valuable part of God's plan, but your life is but a blip on the radar and a vapor. The world will not end because you decided to value your family, your health, and most importantly, your personal relationship with God, above the hamster wheel called life.

Remember, no matter your vocation, wherever you are, the spirit of the Lord is with you when you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Whatever we're doing, do it with our might. So whether we're working or resting, we are to be all in, giving the best of us at that time. And we've got to respect the rhythm of work and rest.

Finally, we should approach work as a great opportunity from God to be a blessing in this world. It gives us a way to use our gifts and anointing. Work provides income streams for our family and our giving. What work doesn't do is define us, complete us, fulfill us, or make us more or less loved by God.

We should practice introducing ourselves to people without referencing the work we do first. Since if you lost that job, you will not have lost your identity or purposes as a child of God. You are bigger and better than your work. Proverbs 13:4 in the Amplified reminds us that the soul (appetite) of the lazy person craves and gets nothing for lethargy overcomes ambition, but the soul (appetite) of the diligent who works willingly is rich and abundantly supplied. Work God's way is remembering that God is our source and work is not our master. We are to be free to work and to rest without guilt.

Work God's way is a blessing, not bondage. Let's remember the words of Galatians 5:1, New English translation, as we move ahead. For freedom, Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.