What's In Your Hand- Your Job
To whom much is given, much is required, and that includes our jobs. Last week I wrote about family and how various members of our family are gifts from God, placed in our hands for a reason. This week I will talk about jobs and working hard.
God maybe asking you: “what are you doing with what’s in your hand when it comes to your profession?” Why should God bless us with more or take us to new levels when we haven’t mastered nurturing our jobs and working hard at the level we are at in those jobs?
Looking at Paul
Let's look at the Apostle Paul. He traveled a lot throughout the Roman world, but he also had a day job. Does anyone know what Paul did for a living? Teacher maybe because he was well versed in the Hebrew Scriptures from the time he was a child? No, he had an actual artisan skill- he was a tent maker (Acts 18:1–3). Side note, although it's not so important- the Greek word for "tentmaker" could be translated to any type of leather worker.
In his epistles to the Thessalonians, Paul spoke about work:
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God
(1 Thessalonians 2:9).
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you
(2 Thessalonians 3:7–8)
What do we see here:
Firstly, Paul had a pride in his non ministry work, just like he had pride in his ministry work.
Secondly, Paul didn't want to be a burden to others. In looking at the context from 1 Thessalonians, Paul didn't solely rely on others to provide for his needs. Now, as a side note there were people who donated money and goods to Paul as he traveled, the Church at Philippi being a main one. When he arrive to a new city he aimed to work with his own hands, to use his leather/tentmaking skills that God had given him in his youth to get a salary.
Thirdly, Paul wanted to show consistency and diligence through his work ethic. He states in 2 Thessalonians 3:7 that "you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you." He wanted the Thessalonians to understand work ethic.
So what does this mean for us?
1- that we are to take pride in our work.
2- that we should have a skill, work and not be a burden to others.
3- that we should be consistent, diligent and have a strong work ethic.
The jobs we have now have been placed in our hands, even if we aren't quite in the role that we want to be in. When I have had jobs that I didn't necessarily like, or knew that I wasn't destined to make a into career, I hung on to Colossians 3:23 remembering to do that job as if God were my boss that I'd have to answer to.
I really believe that if we follow the model of Paul and follow steps 1-3 God will bless our faithfulness in a role and gratitude for the role, and at the right time He will move us upward and onward if that's what He wills and and what we desire.
Happy Friday!