Ps Rob from Bayside Church gave an excellent sermon last week. He’s been doing a series titled “Church Without Walls” and educating the congregation about the value of our going out into community and the workplace and being a light to the world on a daily basis. That being a Christian does not stop inside the church walls but extends far beyond that.
Last week it was session 12 with an emphasis on ‘work’. He shared how God has given us gifts which help demonstrate our creative abilities in many ways - and that we should be using those gifts on a regular basis. That these gifts can be employed in all of our lives including through the workplace.
Ps Rob prompted us to consider that every gift is a spiritual gift, that every gift is vital, that every gift is unique because it’s filtered through our own personalities and what makes us, us and he asked us to think about what were we made for?
I know that answer for me and I also know it took me over 30 years to find that answer. I have a daughter who is very blessed at the age of 23 to know that answer and she has known it for a long time. But do you know the answer for you?
Ps Rob then explained the difference between a job and a vocation.
Job = what you get paid to do
Vocation = what you are here to achieve. It’s where your gifts meet the world and it’s your calling in life.
Now, for some, job and vocation are exactly the same thing - I know it is for me. But what about you? Are you working a job you don’t enjoy and you’re just doing it for the money? Or is it something you were called to do?
If we are made in God’s image (and we know that is the case) then we are called to work and were indeed made for work. There are heaps of instructions in the bible that tell us to work with diligence, to work for our boss like we are working for the Lord, that hard work is commanded (Eccl 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”), that hard work is satisfying and that there is a balance between working too hard and not working enough.
Ps Rob finished up with information about the ant and the sloth and seemed to delight in saying the word ’sluggard’ often to drive the point home. Prov 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
A little saying for you which I thought excellent:
Vocation without vacation leads to vexation!
My name is Kathie and I live in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up always knowing that God was with me and formally accepted Christ as my Saviour when I was 14 years old. I have had many experiences where God has been involved at my places of work and amongst my work colleagues.
by Beverly, on April 27 2008 @ 11:02 am
I like to think of my ministry as working a vocation while on “vacation.” Each day I want to be renewed and rejuvenated so I can continue to do God’s work stronger and better than ever daily!