Scripture Reading: Psalm 8
Today we begin our Thanksgiving series, and we're going to look at worship in all aspects of life. If you were with us in our Churchy Habits series, we talked about habits Christians cultivate in their walk with God. Today we're building on that foundation and asking the question: what does it look like to worship God not just on Sunday mornings but Monday through Saturday. Today, we are specifically looking at the work we do.
Here's what I want you to walk away with today: Your work is not a burden to be endured. It is a gift to be stewarded, an act of worship to be offered, and a calling that echoes into eternity. We're going to unpack that together this morning.
We're going to look at four things. Work is part of God's design. Work is a gift from the Lord. Work can be an act of worship. And — here's the one that might surprise you — work is part of Heaven.
God’s Design for Work | Genesis 2:15
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This verse is the foundation for everything else that follows. In Genesis 1, the Lord creates the heavens and the earth in 6 days. At the end of each day, He surveys what is made and calls it “good.” Then, after making humanity, He surveys all that He made and says it is “very good.” The 6 ‘goods’ with the added 7th ‘very good’ tells us God’s design is perfectly good and complete.
Then, in Genesis 2, we have an extension of the story of humanity’s creation. We see the Lord God form man from the dust of the earth and breathe life into the man. Then, the Lord God plants a garden in Eden—which, if you've ever planted a garden, you know that's work. God is modeling what He's about to instruct. In the middle of the garden is the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The rest of the trees come up from the ground, and then in verse 15 we read:
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Genesis 2:15
And so, before the Fall, before even Eve was created, Man was given a job to do. He is to “work” and “keep” the Garden. These two words are worth looking at a little closer because they appear throughout Scripture in a few ways. Most notably for today, “work” can be used in service to the Lord. When Moses is told to lead God’s people out of Egypt, God says,
He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve (avad) God on this mountain.”
Exodus 3:12
Moses will be put to work on the mountain after leading the people to the mountain. He will be recording the Law God gives on the mountain.
Our vocational work is part of God’s design for Creation.
We should begin with this foundation in mind, because sometimes work can be grueling, annoying, or downright unbearable. We can get in the mindset that work is part of the Fall, but in reality work existed before the Fall and is part of God’s design. The curse of sin is that work becomes harder (“thorns and thistles” and “by the sweat of your brow” occur after the Fall), but there was always going to be vocational labor. When we start looking at work as part of Creation, then we can start viewing it also as a gift.
Work is a Gift from the Lord | Ecclesiastes 5:24-26
In the Book of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher chronicles his search for meaning in life. The pursuit sounds fairly dark at times, because the pursuits of this life leave us unsatisfied. In the midst of his series of “vain pursuits”, he remarks on the frustration and value of work. In chapter 5, verses 18-23, he laments that all the toil he suffers and the stuff he gains in this world will just be left to someone else. And, who know if this person will be wise or a fool? He calls it a vexation, full of sorrow, and in the night his heart does not rest.
This is the attitude that many will have about their jobs, especially when they feel like a cog in a machine. What is the value of their work? How can they find meaning or satisfaction in their job?
Ecclesiastes offers these lamenting views in order to recognize the reality of life. It is temporal. Satisfaction can be fleeting. And in the end, no matter what kind of person you are or what you do, we all end up in the grave.
The wisdom of Ecclesiastes comes in recognizing this reality. Every life on earth has an ending date. And so, how should we live in light of understanding that life is temporary? The Teacher gives us his response in verse 24.
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
The best thing to do is enjoy the work while you can. “Eat, drink, and find enjoyment in his toil” sounds a bit like the world’s “eat, drink, and be merry,” but the Bible’s version is far more productive and satisfying. The reason it is more satisfying comes in verse 26. The one who pleases God receives wisdom, knowledge, and joy in their work. The sinner, however, has the business of gathering and collecting only to give to someone who pleases God. This is the vanity and striving after wind he refers to in the last bit. It is a waste to strive after the things of this earth only to lose them all in death.
Jesus offers several parables that relate to this wisdom, but I think the parable of the Barn Builder explains it best.
And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21
What is the point of storing up tons of things in this life, if you don’t have life left to enjoy them?
What is the point of gathering up wealth when you can’t take it with you?
On the other hand, when we use our wealth, work, and talents as good stewards recognizing their value for the Kingdom, we can invest in eternal matters. There, we find enjoyment in our work. We know we do not labor in vain, because God will bless our work far beyond what we could imagine, much less do, ourselves. In chapter 5, the Teacher returns to this topic and says,
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
We have two options for how to look at our life’s work. It can either be a toil with no lasting purpose for us, or it can be a gift from God. This gift is how the Lord uses our life to build the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. When we see our vocation as a means of stewardship and blessing for those around us and those who follow us, we can take the blessing of our vocation God has given us and use it to His glory.
Our work appears as a burden when we view it with only ourselves in mind, but it is a gift in light of the Kingdom of Heaven.
In this way, our work can become an act of worship. Let’s head to Colossians 3 to see more.
Work Can be an Act of Worship | Colossians 3:17, 22-24
We looked at Colossians 3 during our Churchy Habits series noting how Paul tells us to put on compassion, kindness, meekness, patience and love as our new identity in Christ. As Christians whose identity is in Christ, he tells us to let the peace of Christ rule our hearts and to be thankful. This section is finished in verse 17 with,
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17
All that we do in this life is to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus. It is a response to how Jesus has saved us. Even our jobs are a means of worship because we work “as unto the Lord.” The following verses begin what is called the Household Code. As husbands, we conduct ourselves as husbands redeemed by Christ. As wives, we conduct ourselves as wives redeemed by Christ. Children are to obey their parents, and parents are not to exasperate their children because each is redeemed by Christ. Then, in verse 22, Paul turns his attention to bondservants.
Before we read, I should note the Greek word for ‘bondservant’ is doulos and it has a range of meanings—from ‘servant’ to ‘slave’ and ‘bondservant.’ In this context and in light of our modern world, it may be helpful to think of it as an ‘employee.’
Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:22-24
Working “in the name of the Lord Jesus” means to work knowing you are ultimately working for the Lord. He has placed you in this vocation purposefully, and so we fulfill our duties not as those who want to please people, but as those who want to please the Lord. Again, connect this back to Ecclesiastes. The job you have is the job God has given you, and so find enjoyment in it because that is the role God has placed you in. With that in mind, we are to “work heartily”—“heartily” is literally “from the soul.”
“From the soul” (ek psyche) is a Greek idiom that appears in other literature outside the Bible, as well. It is a way of saying ‘genuinely.’ It is an attitude that denotes sincerity rather than just superficial action. “Good enough” is not good enough unless it’s “excellent.”
Work becomes an act of worship when we work as though God is our boss.
Now, what if we have a job that just isn’t all that great? What about those times when we find it difficult to continue to labor because we are in a season of working a job that isn’t actually our vocation? Typically, these are jobs in between career jobs or jobs you take as a teenager or young adult. It may even be a job you have to work as you wait for God to open the door to the vocation you really want to do.
We do the work anyway.
No job is permanent. Even when you find yourself in a position you want to do for the rest of your life, there is still an expiration date for when you will no longer be able to do the job. It just may be that God has lessons for you to learn with the not-so-great job that will prepare you for what is to come. And, it may be that God wants you in the current position to take care of a task no one else would do otherwise. Take a look at another familiar verse.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
In the past, we have looked at this verse in light of our salvation. God saves us, and our good works are a response to that salvation. He prepared good works for us to do, and so we should do them. But have you thought about your not-so-great job as part of those good works?
In my mid-20s I found myself in a season of spectacularly humbling jobs. I had stepped down from my first youth pastorate choosing not to remain in a highly dysfunctional church, and then the following summer found out the job at a local private I held had run its course. New administration decided they were going to do some restructuring, and I was no longer needed. It was not a fun text message to read. (Yes, they really did lay me off via text message.) It was July, and I had no church position and no school position. Should you ever decide to become a teacher, you should note July is the absolute worst time to try and find a teaching position.
And so, I delivered pizzas.
For over a year.
What was supposed to be a brief “something to pay the bills” turned into a whole year (maybe year and a half?) of just doing the work because I had a family to take care of. Now, I would love to tell you how some coincidental encounter brought me to where I am today, or how someone loved their pizza so much, they did a thing that changed my life, or something super awesome. The reality is nothing “big” really happened.
What did happen was each day, I was tested more and more. My pride dwindled more and more. My self-entitled spirit based on accomplishment dwindled more and more. And eventually, I came to the conclusion that I either needed to exercise faith during this whole period, that it was for something, or I was going to become a very bitter person.
I would later realize that period in my life prepared me for another season of vocational disappointment. And in that season, I realized what God was doing was polishing out some rough edges. I had some character defects that needed tending to. Long story short, those humbling times—those trials as James calls them—were filling in the gaps in my faith.
When we work heartily as for the Lord, we realize the worst jobs we have are still gifts to help us accomplish the purpose God has for our lives.
In having the work ethic of “service to the Lord” we recognize whether we love the job or hate it, it is an act of worship and service. We are fulfilling the task God has placed before us. And one day, we will complete all the tasks God gives to us and see Him face to face.
Then what will we do?
Work is Part of Heaven | Revelation 7 & 21
John gives us a vision of Heaven, and I want to point out two spots for today. The first one is Revelation 7. This chapter is a pause in the narration. John sees a gathering of people from the tribes of Israel, and then in verse 9, he sees a whole multitude of people that no one could number from every nation, tribe, people and language. They are clothed in white singing praises to the Lord. One of the elders in heaven asks John who these people are. John say, “Sir, you know”—as in, “you would know quicker than me.” The elder responds,
These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
Revelation 7:14-15
The ones who are saved out of the great tribulation who have washed their robes are now before the throne of God and serve him day and night. The word "serve" here — in the Greek Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament — is the same word we saw in Exodus 3:12 when God told Moses he would serve God on the mountain. It's the same word used in Genesis 2:15 when God told Adam to work the garden. The people in heaven are doing the same thing Adam was doing in the garden. They are working. They are serving. They are engaged in purposeful, meaningful activity in the presence of God.
One of my very first sermons was from this passage. I told the people in heaven, we have work. We don’t know exactly what that work entails, but we have work. There is continued service to the Lord, which makes perfect sense when we remember God ordained work as part of what it means to be human. Part of the Image of God is for us to continue to work creating things, administrating things, and building civilizations. In fact, fast forward to chapter 21, and we read about the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven in the New Creation. John records,
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth swill bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
Revelation 21:22-26
Outside the city, there are nations and kings who bring their glory into the city. There are a few options of how this phrase could be interpreted, but the common denominator is that the nations of the world enter the New Jerusalem bringing with them the labors of their people. The work that is done in the New Creation is tied to the work that is done here and now.
We will come back to this passage next week when we discuss the Arts in Worship, but for today, the principle is this:
Our vocational calling today has ramifications and an ultimate fulfilling in the New Creation.
The things we do in life really do echo into eternity as Russel Crowe famously said. Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven. Ecclesiastes reminds us to keep eternity in mind as we labor today. The story of Redemption is the story of God’s work to reconcile humanity to Himself, and we are called to join in that story of Redemption as we live and work today.
How do we work as unto the Lord?
So what do we do with all of this? Let me give you some very practical handles.
First: Change the prayer you pray before work.
Instead of "Lord, help me get through this day," try something like: "Lord, this work is Yours. Help me do it as though You're watching — because You are." That's not a small shift. Over time, that prayer rewires the way you think about what you're doing with your hours.
Second: Evaluate your work through a stewardship lens.
The Teacher in Ecclesiastes asks: are you gathering for yourself, or are you investing in something that lasts? That's a question worth sitting with. Not in a guilt-inducing way, but in a genuinely curious way. What would it look like for your specific vocation — whatever it is — to be an investment in the Kingdom?
Third: Find your people to work with.
Here's something I've noticed about the "work as worship" principle: it's very hard to sustain in isolation. When you're the only one in your workplace who thinks about their job as service to the Lord, it can get lonely. It can get discouraging. You need people around you who will remind you of what you're doing and why.
The Christian life does not work in isolation. It works in community. And this is exactly why I want to personally invite you, if you're not already in a Life Group, to make that your next step. The harmony of the church that we talked about in our last series — the beautiful music that happens when different people with different personalities and different gifts play their parts together — that doesn't happen in rows on Sunday morning. It happens around tables on Tuesday nights. It happens in the parking lot after a Life Group when someone says, "Hey, can I pray for you about that thing at work?”
I want to close by coming back to a question I asked you a few weeks ago, because I think it applies here too.
Thirty years from now, what will you remember about your working life?
Will you remember the hours you spent dreading Monday morning? Will you remember the years you spent just trying to survive until retirement? Will you remember the seasons where work felt completely pointless?
Or will you remember the season you started praying differently before you went to work? The season you started showing up with a different posture — not as someone grinding through the hours, but as someone serving the Lord? Will you remember the moment you realized that even the hard season, even the humbling season, even the pizza delivery season, was God doing something in you that you couldn't have gotten any other way?