Upheld In Working With Purpose

Work Smart

“You can go outside and play when your chores are done.”

Do you hear that in your head? Maybe you can’t rest if there are chores yet to do? The only thing is that the chores are never done. Isn’t that frustrating?

As I chatted with a friend, we talked about this problem of being so busy and overworking. We both agreed that the new catch words “working smart” just means “add more to your pile.”

A couple of things I have found helpful are:

1. Schedule the chores, but limit them per day. Spread them out over your calendar. If you do just a few a day, you might actually accomplish them.
2. Schedule in some play time and don’t let the chores scream your name. They’ll still be there when you get back. I promise.

But maybe there is another way to look at our work.

Work What’s Important

Apostle Paul worked his way through his ministry. It wasn’t a matter of not being beholden to anyone. As a preacher, he had every right to take money for his needs. But he chose to work and make a living even as he traversed a couple continents and share the Gospel. Perhaps that opened ears that would otherwise have been shut.

Training

What if you trained to do a profession, but God calls you to work somewhere else—NOT in your area of expertise?

1. Possibly Paul didn’t like making tents. He was raised to be a Pharisee—one of the ruling class.
2. He had been well educated. He had been trained in theology. He was a scholar.
3. Along with class distinction came creature comforts that he no longer enjoyed.

Work 

God will bring alongside you someone who can train you in this new line of work.

1. Paul learned the discipline of manual labor from Priscilla and Aquila.
2. From them he learned how to relate to people and then, himself, mentored them.
3. He learned about God in a new way. The real God who reached out to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. (And still reaches out to all people today).

Work With Purpose

Today, we call that Tent Making. It means to learn a trade to take with you that will benefit others as you speak to them about God.

Paul had purpose in his work. Do we?

“…Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father…” I Thessalonians 1:3.