Work Has a Whole Lot to Do With Jesus | Valerie Ackermann

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ Who you are serving.”

I’m not sure what your work is today. You may be in an office, a kitchen, a janitor’s closet, or a school room. You may be in yoga pants folding a stroller while trying not to spill your groceries all over the parking lot while holding onto a ready to dart toddler. God made us to work in various ways in this world. It is a gift. The opportunity and the ability. If you are a mom, then your approach of your work is taught in every spoken and unspoken way to those little eyes that watch you. In every way we can, our kids need to know that every part of their life matters and is important and affected by a relationship with Jesus. One of these parts which takes up most of our lives is our work. I don’t think there is a person or parent out there who would not recognize the value and importance of working hard. I think however, sometimes we paint it in a light that isn’t how the Bible paints it. We think that work is bad, that getting out of work is good. We can think that our goal is to get through work, so we can do what is ultimately best, which is not working. People point to that in “retirement” (what is that by the way? Are we ever supposed to cease doing things and just rest and become self focused until we are dead-don’t think so). We can dread work and do our best to get out of it.

A key chapter in The God Puzzle is teaching kids the Biblical view of work. God designed it for us, to make us happy and fulfilled and productive before sin entered this world. Sin changed this, and the chance for work to take on this dark cloud. But, in Christ, He came to redeem that which was wrecked. That redeeming starts now for the believer. He redeems our work so that we see its value in His story. He uses us to accomplish His plans and guess how a lot of that happens, in our work.

This redeems even the most “menial” tasks. I quote that because, when Christ is involved, is there any job too menial. If it is all done in obedience to Him, then making sandwiches for the thousandth time as you sip your coffee in your house coat, is redeemed work and can be used to glorify Him in your life. He uses everything we do as we live lives in obedience to Him. So you are not just making sandwiches, you are being faithful to do what He has given you to do at that moment. It is an opportunity to be obedient and faithful to do the thing in front of you unto Him. Fixing a broken arm, making a sandwich, folding the white load out of the dryer. Done as participating fully in the life He has ordained for us. Following in obedience in each moment. We get practiced at this, and as we are faithful, we can look back to a life of serving Him. Is there any higher calling?

Certainly nothing is below us, for Jesus Himself washed feet. He spent time with children. He healed sick people. Certainly nothing we do can we take the credit for, for He is the One who equips us and guides us.

Teaching our kids about work is so important because they learn early on that they have a part in what God is doing. It shows them purpose, that their faith is deeply connected to every part of their life. There is never an end to the work that can be done in a world that needs Jesus. Even a bed ridden elderly person who is bound to a bed can engage in the mountain moving exercise of prayer for others. A child can learn that he or she has a part in cleaning the yard because it is entrusted to the family to take care of. They learn stewardship and that when you can be trusted with a little, you can be trusted with a lot. So sister, your work is not about you only, it’s God using you in all your special abilities to be part of the grand story that points all to Him. Your life and your work when done out of obedience to the One Who gave it, no matter how “menial” we might label it, is of eternal value. Be encouraged as you go now and do your tasks. They point to Him.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ Who you are serving.”

Valerie Ackermann has a desire to see parents equipped to teach their children about God at home because there is simply not enough time in Sunday school alone. Seeing the need for a resource that was both theologically deep, yet written in language that speaks to a child and explains the Bible and God in a step-by-step process, she wrote The God Puzzle.

Ackermann is the Director of Children’s Ministries at Parkway Community Church where she is involved with overseeing volunteers, planning and developing programs, and facilitating the classes for Sunday school. She also teaches her own class every Sunday and loves staying in the classroom and on the front line with the kids.

Learn more about The God Puzzle and Valerie Ackermann at www.leadmetoGod.com or via Facebook (LeadMeToGod) and Twitter (valackermann).

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