Don't Labor in Vain
Ah Labor day... The day we use as a reward for working. A day dedicated to give us rest and celebrate our careers. To reflect on all that we have accomplished and what we will continue to do in the positions we have been placed in divinely by God. What? Divinely by God? Sorry, Kristy, I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. I'm not where God wants me, I'm at a dead-end job with no influence at all.
Related Post: Ministry is a position not a title
I often run into people who are frustrated, disappointed, and flat-out irritated with their job or their position at that job. Many have been given a glance at what God has called them to in their future and their current position seems completely off track for them. They find themselves constantly complaining and even begging God to elevate them to the next step so they can take their "stage role". Some of them even completely shut the door on God as they enter into the building, because they are supposed to be in "full-time ministry" not behind a desk in a cubicle or outside in the heat of construction.However, here's what I have found to be true. God has numbered our steps, He goes before us, and He places us where we need to be. His greatest call on our lives is to love and lead the lost to Him and that doesn't always come looking like a Pastor or worship leader.When you think of the structure of a church, you have the Pastor who is the head disciple over the body of that one church. However, the body is larger than the amount of lead pastors, so what does that tell you? God is leading people astray until they become pastors? No! Full time ministry isn't just within the church! God has many disciples in all places, for so many reasons and seasons. And you are one of them!
Related Post: Work vs worship – You might be doing it wrong.
Not everyone is meant to be the head of the physical church, but it doesn't mean that they aren't the Pastor over their department, practice, spa, store, etc. Think of the disciples, they were doctors, tax collectors, fisherman. God knew to show us this so we could see how important it is to turn our workplace into a place of worship.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep..." - Psalm 127:1-2
So what makes my work in vain? Let's look at the definition of what that means: "To be found wanting, be unsuccessful, beat the air, bootless errand, come to grief, fail, fail of success, flunk, flunk out, etc..."If you are going to work reluctantly unable to see "Why" you are there and not sharing Christ's love and light into your workplace, if you aren't making your work worship (Glorifying God in all you do.) then you are laboring in vain. God has called us to be His light on a hill, His hands and feet. But if you ignore His call to love and find the lost in your daily living, you could be missing chances to pour into the next Christine Caine. Ultimately not learning in this season what you needed to in order to become the next Joyce Meyer or Andy Stanley. You can't learn how to lead, without first following, or being sown into.[easy-tweet tweet="God has called us to be His light on a hill, His hands and feet." via="no" usehashtags="no"]If you are missing the opportunities that God places in front of you on a daily basis in your workplace, you are working for nothing; You are laboring in vain. I encourage you today to challenge your way of thinking about your current job or work situation. A simple change in perspective could make all the difference! Happy Labor Day, my Friends!