Let Your Work Worship God

Dr. Mike Business & Faith , , ,

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…” Hebrews 12:28 ESV

worship 1

When or where did today’s church make a distorted turn when it comes to worship? The message that we hear so often every week is to assemble for worship. It’s like the reason we assemble is to make it possible for you to worship. The implied message (though not intentionally meant) is that worship is something that is done only in church through music. Again, we are instructed to gather together and praise our Lord. This is a good thing. The problem though is when we limit worship to only a church service and music. When we do, we put God into a tiny box.

The Hebrew word used throughout the Bible for Worship is closely related and sometimes interchangeable with the word Work. If you take the time to study, you will find that the Hebrew Scriptures associate worship and work as bedfellows.

I sometimes think we in the western world conduct ourselves in Church the opposite of God’s original intentions. We generally follow the world’s systems until we discover God’s ways. Take for example the Sabbath. The Hebrews kept the seventh day as a day of rest. They worked six days and rested on the seventh day. A part of their rest was attending a local synagogue. In our post-modern Christian world, we attend a church service where we are bombarded in the opposite way. We are typically encased with a Broadway-type staged music performance that is played so loud that one cannot hear themselves sing out of key. At times it brings back memories of attending a rock concert. It makes one wonder whether or not many of us expose ourselves to strong worship/work during services and then find our peaceful rest during the remaining week. Hopefully I’m the only person who sees it that way and the majority have their act together better than I.

Meanwhile, imagine a life where your work is your worship to God. Where your motive and intentions are to glorify God. What level of quality would you display in your work for God’s glory? How would you relate with your fellow employees if your work was to glorify God? How would you tackle that difficult customer if your work was to glorify God? If you are fortunate (or unfortunate) to own the business, does your brand, service, product, and culture emulate God’s glory? If your work is your worship to God, how does that show up in your business?

Tough questions. Yet when one discovers how Christ makes everyday work and business about Him and his Kingdom, the path opens quickly and the motivation is unceasing. To worship God through all you do is the most rewarding journey this life offers. Seize it. Ride it. Enjoy the life we have in Christ as we worship Him and serve others through the work we do every day.

 

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

Learn. Integrate. Grow.

Freedom

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,

“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” 2 Peter 2:19

chocolate 1

I am a reformed chocoholic. There was a time when I would eat pounds of chocolate each day simply to comfort myself through the stress of everyday life. This went on for many years until one day at a grocery checkout counter I was shocked how I couldn’t say no in the purchase of a chocolate bar. The reality sunk in that I was addicted to chocolate. I was a slave to my yearnings and desire for chocolate. I couldn’t say no. I had lost my freedom of choice. Instead of choosing whether or not I wanted chocolate, the choice was already made. I was a slave to my desire for comfort and the satisfaction that chocolate gave me. The price I paid was my freedom.

Many of you may laugh, but for a highly disciplined person (I thought) this was serious. I realized like the scripture above stated, I was enslaved to something else rather than to Christ. The problem wasn’t the chocolate. Like most things in this physical world, we use physical means to satisfy some inner spiritual hole. For me, that hole was the inability to cope with the everyday stress of work and life. Chocolate, with its built-in nutritional values seem to satisfy that inner me. Yet was there something deeper?

In analyzing the process, I realized that chocolate was the byproduct of stress caused by the challenges of work. What had to change for me to forgo my chocolate addiction? Jesus spoke about worry and stress as recorded in Scripture (Matt. 6:24-34). The bottom-line is having a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ at work. When I repented of my lack of faithfulness on the job, things began to change. I quit chocolate and discovered Spirit fruit. I learn to worry less and lean more on Him.

The more God’s Spirit empowers us, the less physical things are needed to be satisfied in this life. Today, I don’t miss the chocolate. I stay away from it because I would rather depend on Jesus. The more we lean on Christ and His finished work, the less enslaved we become to sin and outside cravings. The more He lives in us, the more freedom we have to live a fully, expressive life with the gifts and opportunities he bestows upon us. Now whenever anything comes between Him and me, it is quickly thrown away. For we now know that real freedom is experienced when we surrender our lives to the King.

 

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

Learn. Integrate. Grow.

Twenty Minutes, Twenty Days, Twenty Years

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , , , , ,

“What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14 ESV

 

 vapor 1

One of our small group member’s Mom passed away this week. This past year along, his father and sister likewise died.  The loss of three of your family members in one year is more grief than most of us sustain in any year. Yet, for us still alive and dealing with the challenges of life, death is sobering and allows us to pause for the moment to reflect on what is most important in our world.

This is when I most often think of the 20/20/20 concept. If you knew you only had twenty more minutes to live, what would you do?  If you knew you only had twenty more days to live, what would you do? And what if you knew you only had twenty more years left to live, what would you do? At least once a year I ask myself these questions to be sure we are intentionally redeeming the time in our life.

By asking the twenty minute question, I focus on those people who are most important in my life and let them know I love them, appreciate them, and am rooting for them. I don’t like to say good-byes. Instead, I let them know good tidings until we meet again.

The twenty day question helps me focus on those important items that need to be completed. If I knew I had only twenty more days left, would I be doing this? If it is important for someone in my world that I truly care about, I would probably do it. Otherwise, if we only had twenty more days left, what are those items that I always wanted to do, but always postponed them with the lazy excuse. If it is not important, admit it. If it is important, do it.

Then there is the twenty year question. If you knew you had twenty more years to accomplish something in this life, what would you do? This question helps you focus on your career or mission in life.  Instead of trying to accomplish everything overnight, you could easily start today and slowly work towards your personal worthwhile goal. As long as you are realizing your goal, you are being successful in your pursuit. It adds flavor to life, allows you to fully express your talents, and you can take on other temporary assignments knowing this is only a temporary obstacle and you will eventually accomplish your goal over time. It helps you to keep focused on the important aspects of life. You may occasionally deviate from you plan, but always return to it knowing that in twenty years you can look back and appreciate the people and events that God has allowed you to experience and share in preparing you for eternity.

So why not take the time today and ask yourself: twenty minutes? twenty days? twenty years? You may be pleasantly surprised by your answers.

 

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Chair, Consultant, Encourager
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Learn. Integrate. Grow.