Working as Unto the Lord

"Slaves (employees), obey your earthly masters (employers) with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free." Ephesians 6:5-8

Before the world was corrupted by original sin, before disease ravaged the earth, before humanity experienced pain and suffering, Adam tended the Garden of Eden. He applied diligence to the task at hand and God blessed him. When Adam and Eve sinned, the Lord promised Adam that his labor would be exceedingly difficult.

But now we live in the dispensation of grace. Jesus bore our sin and we have received the blessing of Abraham (Genesis 3:14). God promises to increase our effectiveness as we work wholeheartedly as unto Him. When we are faithful and hard working, God promises to shine His favor upon our efforts. Diligence yields promotion, and all hard work brings a profit. Our place of work is to become an alter of worship. When we work as unto the Lord, He infuses us with His strength and ability, and our labor brings Him glory.

Men have a special role in their families as the primary breadwinners. I don't mean to say that women should not work, but I do believe that men are to bear the greatest burden when it comes to providing for their families. Remember, it was Adam, not Eve, who was given the responsibility to cultivate the garden.

As the Lord provides for us through the avenue of our careers, let's be quick to give back to Him a portion of what we've been given. As we do, the Lord promises to bless us even more. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Our Lord promises to multiply the seed we sow, especially when we sow with a grateful heart.

During this difficult economic season, many people have lost their jobs – this includes Christians. If your in that place, know that looking for work is your full-time job. And know that as your faithful in searching for a job, God will be faithful to you. We should also make it our habit to pray for each other during these tough times.

No matter what our present financial circumstances are, Jesus remains our Great Provider. As we work diligently and give generously - as much as we are able - the Lord will sustain us.
Let's praise Jesus for His provision and let's work wholeheartedly as unto Him. As we do, we praise Him well, and we open the door for His blessings to overtake us.

© Copyright 2009 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.