Worship through Work No Matter the Circumstance

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk…Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. – 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Are you struggling to feel content with where you are in your business or your place of work?  Is it hard to find your purpose in the tasks in front of you?  Does it feel like you have no excess to give God and others as you move through each day?

Saved from the death sentence that was upon him at birth, an Israelite baby is adopted by the royal family of Egypt.  He learns the ways of royalty and is one of the most educated members of the land, but is never able to forsake his true identity. Frustrated at the injustice that surrounds him, he lashes out one day and strikes down an Egyptian who is oppressing one of his fellow countrymen.  His adopted family turns on him, and Moses escapes with his life, resigning himself to living out the remainder of his years in the backside of the desert.

A young boy filled with potential and growing up in a successful family has a dream one night from the Lord about his future.  Excited, he tells his family, only to find himself narrowly missing death by the hands of his jealous brothers.  Kidnapped and sold into slavery, he is forcefully transplanted far away from everything he knows and loves.  Joseph perseveres and rises through the ranks, only to end up in a foreign prison after being wrongfully accused.

Weary, afraid, and running for his life, a shepherd boy turned warrior hides in caves with a small band of allies, hiding from his king who is hunting him down in bitter anger.  David cries out to God and tries to remember the promise that one day, he will rule over the land instead of the one who seeks his life.

Moses, Joseph, and David, men who lived lives filled with purpose and satisfied themselves with the presence of the living God, all had their times of desperation.  They sometimes couldn’t see the next day or the next hour and had nothing to cling to but a promise.  Enslaved by their circumstances, they had no wealth to give and no excess strength to use.

Like these men of God, we will also go through times when we are living in the backside of the desert.  What should we do when money is tight, opportunities have died, and it seems like we are forgotten?  Must we wait until we have wealth to serve and worship God?

No! It is up to God to write our stories and to declare His glory through our lives.  It is our duty to serve, worship, and work in the place where He has called us.  God allows us to go through lean seasons in our lives so that He can do His work in our hearts: “And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” (Deuteronomy 8:2)

 If you are struggling with worshiping God through your work in this season, consider the following truths:

• Regardless of our level of wealth, it is our responsibility to worship Him by working where He has placed us, even if our work or business was not started with worship in mind.  Commit to working with a heart of worship today!
• Wealth is created through work and our work should be an act of worship to our God. In fact, the word work in Hebrew is avodah, literally meaning “worship.”
• If we do not worship God with our work we will not worship God with our wealth.
• All our work can be an act of worship to God, except, of course, in the case of ungodly products and services. (Colossians 3:17)

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

My prayer for you today is that you would find contentment, joy, and peace in serving the Lord with a heart of worship, regardless of the work circumstances that He has placed you in.  Trust our Lord to mold and shape you during this time in the wilderness so that you will be fully prepared to bless others in future seasons of wealth!