What do you think of when you hear the word “worship”? For many of us our first image would be a corporate one: a gathering of people on a Sunday morning singing in church. Perhaps you have noticed me on a Sunday morning refer to our corporate singing as “sung” worship particularly, and wondered what that was all about. After all, what other kind of worship is there?
Now, what do you think of when you hear the word “work”? Or, perhaps more tellingly, what do you feel? Would it be dread and stress? Frustration or apathy? Or did you think of other four letter words that you need forgiveness for now? Various studies have consistently shown a profound sense of dissatisfaction from work in Western culture.
Pastor Andrew and I long to see your Monday connected to your Sunday. That is, understanding that as Christians we don’t separate our lives into “sacred” and “secular” pursuits. Years ago, the Sydney Australia Anglican Diocese published a paper on the Meaning and Importance of Worship. Their goal was to examine ways of strengthening corporate Sunday worship, but immediately sensed a problem when they started to define “worship”. They, quite rightly, concluded: “Worship is the appropriate response of the entire person to God’s revelation in Christ: it is an all-of-life activity.” Such an approach honours Romans 12:1 which says, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Seeing the whole of life, all our living and working, as worship gets us practicing what Paul was suggesting when he wrote, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men … you are serving the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).”
This Sunday, our continued study of Ecclesiastes will encourage us to find enjoyment in our work and to recognize it as a gift from God. I suspect for many of us this is a profound challenge. We can understand “working to live”, but “living to work”, surely no one does that! And yet that is precisely what God intended for us. Even before the fall, God placed man in the garden to “work it and keep it (Gen. 2:15)”
We have so much to be thankful for as Christians, including our God-given talents and energy which may be used in our labours for the benefit of others. Thomas Nelson writes: “First and foremost, work is not about economic exchange, financial remuneration, or a pathway to the American Dream, but about God-honoring human creativity and contribution.“ So, connect your Sunday to Monday and see your work as an extension of your worship of God – a sense of purpose and fulfillment will surely follow.
Much love,
Pastor Gary
p.s. Early in the new year Pastor Andrew and I will be doing an evening seminar series on various issues concerning “Faith and Work”. Stay tuned.