Last month, the Enterprise began a series on faith in the workplace. This idea came from a workshop that I attended in February called Work as Worship. For Christians, work is more than just a job; it is a calling because everything we do should be done for God’s glory.
The “Work as Worship” event was produced by RightNow Media, which offers a variety of educational resources for Christian business leaders. You can find out more at https://www.rightnowmedia.org/
One of the core focuses of the conference is to help business leaders develop a Biblical view of their company and work life. This is encapsulated in the eight tenets of work as worship. While none of these concepts are rocket science, it is amazing how easily we forget them in the rush of the work day.
That is why we must have the right priorities and values. The “Work as Worship” conference identified eight major tenets that can help a Christian keep everything in perspective.
See the sidebar on page 39 that has the eight tenets described in detail.
8 Tenets of Work as Worship
1.) Work Is Good
In the beginning, God created everything including work. And as with all things, He created work as good. Free from toil and adversity, humans worked in the garden as an expression of worship to God. Work was designed to help us live productive lives and engage in relationship with God. But sometimes, work can get in the way if we do not keep the right priorities. (Genesis 1:28, 2:15)
2.) Sin Corrupted Work
The pure goodness of work didn’t last forever. Sin caused a ripple of destruction throughout all creation. As a result, work was also broken, corrupted and cursed because of the Fall. Work can cause personal stress, relational tension and global problems. (Genesis 3:17-19, 23)
3.) Jesus Makes It Possible for Work to Be Redeemed
God wanted to make things right again, but sin couldn’t go unpunished. Compelled by His love and mercy, God sent His Son, Jesus. Christ renews us and our approach to work. Work no longer rules over our lives. With God’s favor upon us, we don’t work to earn His approval. We already have it. We work motivated by the love of our Savior. (Ephesians 1:7-10, 2:1-10, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
4.) God Gave Us a Mission
Jesus commissioned His followers to the mission to make healthy disciples who grow in relationship with God. Gifted with the Holy Spirit, God’s people carry forward Christ’s mission even to the workplace. Work has a role in the kingdom of God because work is an important part of our lives. Many employees will spend more hours at work than any other waking activity. Because of Christ and His mission, we have purpose in all areas of life including work. (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Hebrews 12:1-3)
5.) We Carry Christ into Our Work
Christians are Jesus ambassadors at work – in the conference room, around the water cooler, or at the lunch table. Everything we do at work should be done in the name of Jesus. (Colossians 3:17, 23-24, 2 Corinthians 5:20)
6.) God Grows Us Through Our Work
The Spirit of God works in us as we work. He uses our relationships, successes, failures and experiences at work as significant tools in our spiritual formation. He teaches us to have the mind of Christ, especially when we don’t feel like it. Through work, God shapes how we view Him, the world and ourselves. (Ephesians 4:14-16, Philippians 1:3-6)
7.) God Can Do More with Our Work Than We Can Imagine
God designed work for the good of the world – not just ourselves. God sees our small acts of love and obedience at work, and those actions can have a big impact on others. In some ways, we may never know the impact our public witness for Christ can have at our workplace. A godly employee can leave a lasting legacy. (Matthew 13:31-33, 25:29, Mark 10:45)
8.) Work Is Worship
Our work goes beyond a mission field, a place of growth, and an avenue for impact. Work is also worship. God gives our work purpose. He uses it to mature us and to reach those who need to know His love. When we work unto God, we taste the goodness God intended for work before the Fall. (1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 22:37-39)
Source: Work as Worship Conference 2018
