What is that annoying sound that snaps you out of a deep, much-needed slumber? When you finally roll over and come to your senses, you realize it’s the morning alarm on your phone and if the device didn’t cost an arm and a leg, you’d throw it across the room in hopes the sound would subside as it exploded into pieces against the wall. Okay, so maybe that’s a little dramatic for a Monday morning scenario, but we’ve all experienced the Monday morning, “I don’t wanna do this anymore” syndrome. You know the one — it’s where you swing your legs out of the side of the bed, rub your eyes, look at the clock and quickly decipher how many more hours before you get to go back to sleep. It’s Monday. Hit the floor. Get to work.
As with most people who hold down full-time employment, I find myself devoting much more than 40 hours a week to my job. In fact, the largest portion of my day and my week is devoted and concentrated on my work. I influence hundreds of people every week and have the opportunity to breathe life and speak truth into their lives on a daily basis, but I’ve found I must view my work as a blessing and gift from God in order to do that. If I don’t, then my attitude and patience toward the people I influence quickly become short and snippy, haughty and sharp, impatient and ungracious, and sadly, very negative and “woe-is-me.” Whether it proves to be an awesome and productive week or a completely frustrating and exhausting day, I know my perspective on how I view my job is key to bringing God honor in my workplace. If I am going to spend 40 to 60 hours every week in this position, I don’t want to give God the leftovers, I want to give Him my best — not just on Sunday, but on Monday – Saturday too. I know I’m not alone when I say, “It can be a challenge.”
J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in North Carolina, introduces a perspective that I believe every Christian should embrace: work as worship. I believe if we viewed our actual service and effort on our job as worship, our attitude would change and our work would become more of a place where we looked forward to Monday instead of dreading it. What if we viewed our work as another opportunity to worship our sovereign Lord and Savior? Would our attitude change? Would our spirits lift? Would our anticipation of what the next day holds heighten? Would we look forward to Monday as much as we did Friday? (Okay… I may be pushing it over the edge just a little on that one.)
We all struggle with the day-in-and-day-out grind from time to time, that’s normal human nature. But if you find yourself truly being challenged in your present work position, I encourage you to join me in a six-week Bible study where we will look at scripture and find God’s perspective on work and how we can view our job as worship to Him.
This six-week study, “Work as Worship,” begins Sunday, November 25th, 9:30-10:30 am at Trinity Baptist Church, Longview. There is no charge for this study and the only book you need is a Bible. If you don’t have a Bible of your own, we have plenty to share. This study is not exclusive to TBC members and you don’t have to become a member of the church to participate in the study. All are welcome. The coffee pot is always on and the hugs are warm, sincere, and plentiful at Trinity. Come check us out.
Should you have any questions or concerns about this study or anything concerning Trinity, please don’t hesitate to contact me by responding to this post. Here’s a sneak preview/trailer of the upcoming study:
Abundant Heart 