10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV
Notice the first two words of this scripture passage. As each-not some, not a select group, but each of us. We all have gifts from God. Each of us is unique.
Do you have the gift of speaking? . Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Whatever work we do, we do for the glory of God.
One does not have to work in the church to glorify God. The notion that there are two classes of Christians, those who earn their keep in secular employment and those who are employed full-time by the church or by a Christian organization, institution , or agency, is not accurate. We all are to do God's work wherever he places us.
Our Savior Christ was a carpenter and earned his living from great labor. Therefore let no man disdain to follow him in a common calling and occupation. For as he blessed our nature by taking upon him the shape of man, so in his doing he blessed all occupations and arts.
Bishop Hugh Latimer (1555)
Work is a calling.
"What seems to be secular works are actually the praise of God and represent an obedience which is well pleasing to him"
Martin Luther
A survey in Germany by Focus Magazine asked what is the most important motivation for work? 48% said money, 35% job satisfaction, 17% comradery and friendship. Is God relevant here? Not sure we can answer that, because each individual has an inbuilt desire to flourish and with very different ideas on what that might mean. For many people , material things like food, clothing, and housing are the primary motivation for work, however for the follower of Christ, the primary motivation is to seek God's Kingdom and HIs Righteousness.
We Christians are here for a purpose. Christians are not to be lazy and idle; they are to work to provide for themselves and their dependents.
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. Proverbs 12:11
Yet some people think these are regulations and rules that place a crushing burden on Christians. Listen to Christ's words, these are the opposite of regulation or religious slavery.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
(Matt. 11:28-30)
This is a unique yoke that is geared, not to burden us, but to free us up to live a life of well- being and a sense of fulfillment in doing what God created us to do. We work were God puts us.
"My house, my kitchen, my desk, my very body are meant to be holy places in this world for the eternal God"
Elizabeth Elliott
I think C.S. Lewis sums it up very well.
"Aim at Heaven and you will get the earth thrown in.
Aim at earth and you will get neither."
C.S. Lewis.