Thursday, January 14, 2010
Your Work Matters to God, Part 4 of 45
IDEA: Christians often believe that there is a distinction between the sacred and the secular.
PURPOSE: to expose the assumptions about work and faith that are invalid.
Listen to a testimony that you may have heard many times. How would you evaluate what this man is saying about his work and his faith?
"For ten years I worked as an architect in a large firm in my city. I worked my way through the ranks and I had a very good position in that firm. I enjoyed my work. As I thought about it, though, my work seemed insignificant. For example, I helped design office buildings in the downtown part of our city, and some homes on the outskirts of the city. But I realized that those office buildings would last fifty, or at most, seventy-five years. Then they would be torn down. Those mansions would become tomorrow's boarding houses and then its slums. So I felt that I wanted to do something very significant, something with eternal value. So I gave up my job as an architect, and I went to seminary, and now I'm working on a mission field. I give people the gospel, and I build into their lives truth that has eternal significance. I don't say that everyone in business should become a pastor or a missionary. But I do think that is something we all have to think about. When we give our lives to God, what do we mean? For me, it meant that I would turn my back on what was passing and give my life to what was eternal."
I. Let's analyze this testimony.
What exactly is this Christian brother saying?
What do you appreciate about what he says? What might you question?
How has he related faith to work? Has he really bridged the gap between his Christian faith and his daily work?
We have said that a major way people deal with faith and work is to keep them in two separate spheres. They don't have much to do with each other.
Is this former architect using that solution?
II. We sometimes bridge the gap between faith and work by saying that God's higher calling is to church-based ministry.
Why do we often, consciously or unconsciously, embrace that solution?
Our slogans and songs lead us to it:
"Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what's done for Christ will last."
Since we believe that winning people for Christ or nurturing people alone has eternal value, we sing: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."
Are we conveying that some work is first-rank, first-order Christian activity as opposed to other work which may be honorable, but it is second-class because it deals with "earthly" matters?
Our sermons and devotionals may lead us to embrace that gap.
Sermons on Luke 10 about Mary and Martha: Mary is the spiritual example. She puts mundane matters aside and sits at Jesus' feet focusing on what will last. She has chosen "what is best." Martha, on the other hand, was obsessed with her daily work and on things that pass away and are less important.
Have you ever presented this passage in this way?
Are faith and daily work really in different spheres?
