By David ReayMonday 23 Mar 2015LifeWords DevotionalsCultureReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Colossians 3:23-24
23 Work willingly at whatever you do,as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward,and that the Master you are serving is Christ. (NLT)
We can sometimes believe that the task of preacher,pastor or missionary is the task that ultimately matters most. Those who go to bible college and get into paid church positions are somehow doing more important work than anyone else. Those in paid church positions can sometimes give that impression!
It is not true. Certainly we are to value and respect those who teach publicly and who lead churches. Their work is vital. But so too is the work of the dressmaker,the butcher,the shop assistant or the nurse. We serve God in all sorts of ways not just bible teaching or counselling. There is no first-grade and second-grade discipleship.
Some things might seem more ‘spiritual’ than others. But as our text reminds us,all we do can be done in the name of Jesus. Who knows what impact it will have? The preacher or counsellor might see more immediate fruit,but that doesn’t mean the landscaper or the child-care worker is not bearing fruit.
We dare not think of categories like sacred and secular when thinking about our daily work and activities. This is God’s world and he is involved in every part of it and wants to express that involvement through his people.
The former Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple once said that it is a great mistake to think that God is interested only,or even primarily,in religion.
Blessings
David Reay