For you yourselves know… with toil and labour we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8
People often look at pastors and missionaries, like the apostle Paul, and say, “God has given them a special work to do.” That’s true, but God has also given you a special work to do. Whatever you do, your work is a gift and a calling from God.
At the beginning of the Bible, God introduces Himself as a worker. What kind of work is He doing? He is creating. And we are made in His image. That means we create too. This could mean building a car, making art, writing a document, or starting a company.
You are made in the image of God and the dignity of your work is that, in some way, it reflects the work of God. This is where the carpenters smile, “I’m in the same trade as our Saviour.” If you work in construction or manual labour, you can say, “I do the same work as the Son of God.”
What about the rest of us? If you flip burgers, you’re reflecting God’s work in providing food. If you’re raising kids, you’re reflecting the work of God who created order out of chaos. If you’re a CEO, you hold things together and move them forward—this is a reflection of the God who holds all things together.
What is your work? How does your work reflect the character of God? There is great dignity and great joy in seeing how your work reflects the character of God.
Written by Colin Smith
Read by Sue McLeish
