“Join Him in the Work”
Ephesians 2: 1-10
God created us to work. Last week we learned he also created us to rest in Sabbatical. In the beginning of this second chapter, Paul reminds the people of Ephesus that it wasn’t long ago they were mired in a stagnant life of Sin.
“you filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it….”
The Ephesians were separated from God, disobedient, and in need of the saving grace of the Messiah. I love this message that we are saved by Grace, we cannot work our way to salvation, but neither can we rest and remove ourselves from the demands of the world (Sabbath) to pull ourselves into salvation. Neither work nor sabbath apart from God, brings us salvation. Only God through Jesus brings us salvation whether at work or at rest.
“He took our sin dead lives and made us alive, he did all of this on his own.” “Saving is all his idea, all his work.”
So why does God call us to work? Work is certainly not a development from the fall of mankind. Even in the garden, man and woman were called to take care of creation. Work is God’s idea. Work is Holy.
God doesn’t need us to “do” creation work nor to “do” our salvation work.
“God does both, the making and the saving”
He “invites” us to join him in the work that he does. It is a typical Sunday school lesson to join God in the work of salvation; participating in evangelical work, loving our neighbors, and letting our “light shine.” This IS important work, but how often do we think about joining God in the work of “making” or the work of creation? Paul certainly clarifies in his letter to the people of Ephesus that we are to be co-creators, co-makers, and to join God in his work.
“He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does…”
I don’t believe any work falls outside of the realm of co-creation with God. We are not mired in a life of sin because of the profession we chose (or the job that chose us). Yes, we are taught to think of Doctors, Nurses, Pastors, Teachers, and Therapists as if their work is different and special. They do “helping work" or “serving work.” Their work is the kind of work that specifically loves their neighbor. I certainly appreciate these people and the work they do. However, I also appreciate the plumber that showed up at my house two years ago on Thanksgiving Day when the sewer was backing up into our bathtub. Never has a professional been a more important instrument of God than the dude that ran the snake down our sewer cleanout and allowed us to continue to flush. Every time I eat an apple, make a phone call, enjoy a book, run on a sidewalk, tap my brakes, or turn on the light beside my bed, I know someone did work that served me. Doctors, Teachers, Pastors, and Mental Health workers play an invaluable role in our society, but I’m equally thankful for the farmer, the engineer, the author, the civil contractor, autoworkers, and the PUD lineman. The co-maker work of God’s people serves me daily.
How do we join God in his work? How do we know the work we are called to do? When do we decide to change to a new kind of work or to a new profession? When do we decide to stay in a job that feels mundane? Does boredom at work mean I should change jobs? If I don’t feel the presence of God in my work, is that an indication my work is not right for me?