Joy and Dignity of Work

Call To Prayerย 

Title: Joy and Dignity of Workย 

By: Njuacha Hubertย 

Date: 02.03.2024ย 

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33ย Then his disciples said to each other, โ€œCould someone have brought him food?โ€ย  ย 34ย โ€œMy food,โ€ย said Jesus,ย โ€œis to do the willย of him who sent me and to finish his work. ย  John 4:33-34ย 

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There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). This also means there is time to work andย time to rest. Sometimes laziness sets in, and we may even find ourselves wishingย we had no work but could just receive. But today I would like to share some thoughts that by Godโ€™s grace will reignite our love for the work we have been called to do today.ย 

Beloved in Christ, there is joy and dignity in work. Work in itself is not a consequence of Adam and Eveโ€™s disobedience but rather stressful work (Genesis 3:17-19) for before their fall they were already working in the garden; tending the garden, naming the animals (Genesis 2:15-17). This is because work is great. It is fulfilling. It is an opportunity to be useful, productive, to serve. ย 

Saint Paul said in Acts 20:35: In all thingsย I have shown you thatย by working hard in this way we mustย help the weak andย remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said,ย โ€˜It is more blessedย to give than to receive.โ€™โ€. ย 

Itโ€™s important that we renew our minds about work and access the grace to work joyfully. To work not like a man under the curse but as one who has been liberated and is now free to work (from rest, without stress) not just for reward but as one who is already blessed and grateful (Ephesians 1:3). Colossians 3:23-24: says: ย Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,ย 24ย since you know that you will receive an inheritanceย from the Lord as a reward.ย It is the Lord Christ you are serving. This is also similar to the motivation Jesus expressed in the opening verse; he found joy in working to please the father. ย 

So, in all, we can see 2 sources of motivation. The first is that we are grateful for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ without which we would not be heirs of eternal life (John 3:16, Titus 3:7) and have access to grace (Ephesians 1:3, John 15:5). The second part is we are aware of his faithfulness in rewarding our labour of love (Hebrews 6:10, Hebrews 11:6). With these two elements: A grateful and hopeful heart we can work always joyfully utilizing strength and grace that He provides. ย Again work joyfully, because we know we are serving the Lord by serving others.

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Prayer Point: ย 

Letโ€™s thank God for the word today. Letโ€™s pray for more understanding of our inheritance in Christ Jesus which imparts grace to work from His rest. ย 


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