"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)
Recently, the Lord began to challenge my thinking regarding a pattern of thought that multitudes of individuals, myself included, have been subject to for many years. It's one that seems to be deeply entrenched in so much of our culture that it is considered the "norm" and is rarely questioned. It is a prevailing mindset that work is something we have to get through and endure in order to get to something we would really enjoy. We learn this early and it is reinforced continually throughout our lives.
But what if drudgery isn't the "norm"? What if there's something more?
The more "traditional" dialogue has been something like this:
- Work/attend school 5 days a week to get to the weekend
- Attend school 9 months a year to get to summer vacation
- Work 50 weeks a year to get to 2 weeks of vacation
- Work 40+ years to get to retirement
- Getting through the shift at work, the household chores, the child care duties, or the class period to get to the "feed" of social media (many are cutting corners and not even completing the work anymore before turning to this pleasure)
- Hurrying through, or skipping, homework to get to the latest online videos or our favorite flavor of video games
- Forgoing the sleep needed to fuel our productive work to watch hours of television and movies now available 24/7 anywhere we are.
What if recreation became simply another activity added in measure to a life that is already filled with purpose, joy and energy?
What if our own insistence that the goal of our life is to get to "recreational time" is the very thing that has robbed us of the joy we were created to have in our work?
And what about our recreation? What are we choosing to do and how are we doing it? Is it a healthy refreshing change of activity or is it a desperate attempt to escape a life with no purpose, passion or focus? Do we leave the "high" of play just as empty and without direction as when we began? There is a marked difference between pleasure and joy. Without a clear revelation of Whose we are and what He created us to do we busy ourselves doing all kinds of things but ultimately find ourselves miserable and never satisfied. God is our source of joy and satisfaction (Psalm 16:11, 1 John 2:15-17). And it is that joy found in relationship with Him that gives us the strength, wisdom and direction to do all that we do.
It is presented this way in Proverbs 29:18,
"Without revelation people run wild, but one who follows divine instruction will be happy." (CSB)
"If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed." (MSG)
It is impossible for anyone to discover who they are or what they are meant to do apart from Jesus Christ. We were created to be His (by grace) and to live a full, satisfying life of good works (also by grace):
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT)
"For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]." (Ephesians 2:10, AMP)
What if worship became more than something we do for an hour on Sunday? What if our worship included taking the time to discover what our work is in each season of our lives (it changes as we grow and mature in Christ) and then did it with all of our hearts for the glory of God? (Colossians 3:23-24) What if the "good life" isn't something that waits for us on the weekend, on summer vacation, or at age 65? What if it's right here, readily accessible in every part of every day? What if we worshiped God through our work habits, attitudes and in what we "produce"? What if we approached our work with passion and sought to become an expert in our "field" (whatever that may be) all to partner with God in bringing His Kingdom, which is simply God's way of doing things, here to earth?
Our work, no matter how significant or insignificant it may seem to us, is of profound importance to God. When we rise up and excel in the things He has given us and equipped us to do something greater than our personal effort is released. Anointing fills the atmosphere around us and Kingdom comes. This holds true no matter how big or small the work appears to be. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it well:
"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well'."
A great example of this is found in the early days of President James Garfield. He paid his way through college in 1851 by persuading the school to let him be the janitor in exchange for tuition. Every day he would get up early in the morning and do the job cheerfully and with excellence. Then, with his day having already long begun, he would eagerly go off to class. Within one year he became a professor and was teaching a full course load in addition to his own studies and, at age 26, he became the dean of the school.
This is what happens when a job - any job - is done well. As we humble ourselves before God, He will, at the right time, lift us up in honor to a new place in which we get the privilege and opportunity to serve Him even more. (1 Peter 5:6-7)
The passion, quality and joy of our work should arrest the attention of heaven and earth. If this is not our current experience, we can ask the Lord the following question:
"Is this an attitude thing or a position thing?"
Are we right where we are supposed to be but just not seeing it from the right perspective? Are we carrying an attitude that is preventing us from stepping into excellence, joy and satisfaction? Or, is it that we are in the wrong position entirely and need to seek Him to discover the right place and move there in faith and obedience? Both take courage, diligence and discipline to change. God loves to talk with us about these questions and is up to the challenge of helping us navigate the changes - it's completely within His skill set!
So, the question becomes not "Who stole the joy of work?" but rather "Who gave it away?"
We did.
The good news is we can reclaim it! It's ours for the taking - and then for the sharing in all we do! We are surrounded by mission fields - in our homes, schools, places of employment and communities. So many are hurting and are looking for the peace, joy and satisfaction that can only be found in Jesus. Radiating joy in play and work speaks a powerful word! Shine bright and be ready to share the Good News about the joy and hope you carry! (1 Peter 3:15)
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matt 5:16, AMP)
“Moses said, ‘Please. Let me see your Glory.’ God said, ‘I will make
my Goodness pass right in front of you; I’ll call out the name, God, right before you.’” (Ex 33:18-19a)
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