“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23

Labor Day is now behind us, but how many of us actually think about the significance of labor (work), especially as followers of Christ?  I suspect that work is, for most of us, but a necessary evil to be endured because there is no other choice. The real goal is a life of leisure and doing whatever we want when we want.

This may explain why so many people play the lottery or buy the latest get-rich scheme book. Multi-level marketing companies abound suggesting how unsatisfying your present work is while offering promises of financial freedom where you will be able to live your dreams happily ever after.

Our culture’s emphasis on recreation, relaxation and retirement is a great deception and partly the result of faulty theology in our Christian worldview of work. While there are ample examples of dehumanizing work situations, God never devalued work—it was never intended to be something to be despised or a tool for mistreating others for personal gain. God created man to work from the beginning, and the Scriptures are full of instructions about how we are to carry out our work and the purpose of our work. We are, after all, God’s workmanship created for good works, and the Bible is clear that everything we do, including our work, is to be done for His glory. Our work is an opportunity to create, to bring order to our world and to bless others in need. It is a true expression of our being made in the image of God, and it is pleasing to the Lord when we work with dignity.

Whether you are still working or retired, as a grandparent what view of work are you passing on to your grandchildren? Are you modeling a biblical work ethic and the value and dignity of work? Look for opportunities to ask questions about their view of work and leisure. In a world built around entertainment and recreation, the value of work is often undermined. You can help shape their workview, that is, their worldview of work.

GRANDPAUSE: “Christians view work as a high calling—a calling to be co-workers with God in unfolding the rich potential of His creation.” –Chuck Colson