A Sure Pathway To Living An Overcoming Christian Life.
The Expected Christian Life and Description
Bible Text: Genesis 1:1-8; Genesis 2:15; Genesis 2:19-20
INTRODUCTION
Summary of Part One
- What Is Work? – Genesis 2:15-16a; Gen 4: 17-19
Work is not punishment as some think. It is not after the fall of man creation but before the fall of man creation. Definitely the fall corrupted work, making it labour, in sweat and in hardness. However, work originally is created as a pleasure, part of creation, an express of humanity and godliness of man. It is in the being or DNA of man and a way of relating to God himself.
- Objective, Focus and Purpose of The Study – Proverbs 6:6-11; Matthew 6:10
The focus and aim of this Bible Study started in the part one and now this part two is to gain God’s perspective on, about and for work as designed by the Lord for man. It is also focussed on gaining the biblical, the correct and fruitfulness perspective on God’s plan for Christians’ working lives and learn how to incorporate work and vocation into worship of the Lord.
As believers we need to know and live on what the Bible has to say about our work. Our faith in Christ Jesus need to lead us to what the gospel says about work. The Gospel should therefore Mould, reframe and change, our understanding of work, the way we work and sometimes the work that we do. It is also another aim of this study to help us as believers see the ways our work connects to God’s work or disconnects from God’s work!
- Time and Life Spent To Work – Eccl 3:1-10;
To even think that our work has nothing to do with the Lord is very wrong. It is so wrong and fundamentally wrong to say the least. Of the 24 hours in a day man spends over half of it at work, about work and around work. Time is life, relationship and life. It also relationship and preparation for what to do after retirement. Our God is the one who our times and lives and in His hands. It has taken so much of you, as you prepare for work early in life, work and prepare for retirement life as you work. So work is really our lives and our living.
- Our Destinies Are Tied To Our Work
Joseph – His Work – His Destiny – Gen 39-41 – David – His Work – His Destiny – 1 Sam 16:11; 14-18;
Apostle Paul – His Work – His Destiny – 2 Cor 6:4-10 – Abraham -His Work – His Destiny – Gen 12-24
Isaac – His Work – His Destiny – Gen 26:1-25 – Jacob -His Work – His Destiny – Gen 30-32
Peter – His Work – His Destiny – Acts 5:1-16
Therefore:- We cannot separate God from work; We cannot separate faith from work; We cannot separate relationships from work; We cannot separate holiness from work; We cannot separate the Word of God from work; We cannot separate eternity now and tomorrow from work
Therefore, in essence we are saying that work has all and everything to do with the Lord, our faith, relationships, holiness, the Word of avid and eternity now and tomorrow and for each.
- Your Work and Your Faith – James 2:14; Revelation 2:13
Did you ever wonder what your work has to do with your faith? The short answer is everything.
Show me your works without faith –
We must therefore integrate our faith and work on a daily basis. It is also an excellent reminder that God hasn’t called the world to go to church, but has called the Church to go to the world.
The Christian workers must relate their work to God and thereby make their work holy and meaningful. You cannot work outside of God as a Christian. Your work cannot be separated from God and faith. Your work must be carried out only in holiness and righteousness, completely in the fear of the Lord.
- The Hall of faith in Hebrews 11 is the Hall of Work – Hebrews 11:8-13
- Genesis 1-11 and Work – Defining Truths
Genesis tells the story of God’s work of creation, the first work of all and the prototype for all work that follows.
In God’s image, we work in creation, on creation, with creation and—if we work as God’s intends-for creation.
In Genesis we see God at work, and we learn how God intends us to work.
We both obey and disobey God in our work, and we discover that God is at work in both our obedience and disobedience.
The creation is forever dependent on God-“In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28) – yet it remains distinct. This gives our work a beauty and value above the value man can give to it. Our work has its source in God, yet it also has its own weight and dignity. Remember the saying, there is dignity in labour?
- God Works Relationally (Genesis 1:26a)
Work makes man relate with others. Before the creation of man, God speaks in the plural, “Let us make humankind in our image” Gen. 1:26, referring to the Trinity. John 1: 1-4
People are Created in God’s Image – Genesis 1:26, 27; 5:1
When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God. All creation displays God’s design, power, and goodness, but only human beings are said to be made in God’s image.
God is the creator of works in both the material and spiritual worlds. We have the ability to do the same as believers which should make our work different. Hebrews 11:3; Psalms 42:7 – His creation must work as well for the continuation and sustainable of creation.
CONCLUSION
We therefore work for God. We work in God. We work towards God and the purpose of God. Work is more and bigger than a means of livelihood but a continuation of the creation in God and through God by our work. Work is a creative impact driven life. Work is not about what you get from work, but what work makes you add to life and others. So start working with this understanding from where you are , and see what the Lord will do with work in the will, way and creative nature of God.
