How God’s Grace Transforms Our Work
2 Corinthians 9:8
Let’s turn to 2 Corinthians 9:8. If you need a Bible – go ahead and raise your hand and we’ll bring one to you. 2 Corinthians 9:8 is on page 968 in the Bibles we are passing out.
We’ve just finished 22 weeks on the Sermon on the Mount. And now before we tackle another major portion of Scripture – I want to cover two crucial topics. Today – given that it’s Labor Day Weekend – I want us to look at how God’s grace transforms our work. And then I want to take a couple weeks to dig into John 4 on what it means to worship. And then – Lord willing – we’ll work our way through another book of the Bible.
So today let’s talk about work. And when I talk about work I’m talking about all kinds of work -- writing computer code, meeting with clients, doing the laundry, drafting a marketing plan, doing your homework, cooking dinner, developing a budget – those are all work.
But here’s the problem. Lots of believers have a strong relationship with Jesus Christ when they do seemingly spiritual things like pray or read God’s Word or do ministry. But when they go to work -- that stops. When they go to work – they feel like they are on their own.
So what I want to show you is that when you are working -- whether it’s swinging a hammer or tapping on the keyboard or peeling onions – Jesus Christ is standing before you with grace that can transform your work.
To see this – look at what Paul says in 2Cor 9:8 --
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Did you catch all the uses of the words “all” and “every”? Read it again –
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
So God is always ready to have His grace abound to you – overflow to you – pour upon you – even at work. And here’s why. It’s because of what Jesus Christ did on the Cross 2,000 years ago.
Even though we have all sinned against God and deserve only punishment from Him – God is a God of grace. God loves to do amazing good for completely undeserving people. And so God sent Jesus – His own Son – who died on the Cross to pay for our sins.
As so now – because you are trusting Jesus – what you receive from God now and forever is not punishment but grace -- abounding grace. Which means that when you are working – whether it’s filing dental records or helping a customer or planning marketing or advising a client or studying for sociology or changing a diaper – Jesus Christ is standing before you with abounding grace – ready to transform your work.
So what I want to do is show you six ways that God’s grace in Jesus can transform your work – and I am praying God will use these truths to transform your work this coming week – and for the rest of your life.
First, God’s grace can make our work meaningful. To see this turn to Colossians 3:22-24. And while you are turning there – think about whether or not you see your work as meaningful. Is your work important? Is it important that it be done well? Some of us would say Yes. Others maybe No.
But in Colossians 3 Paul is talking to slaves – slaves who had come to faith. And many of these slaves spent their days feeding pigs and emptying latrines – not the most meaningful work. And look at what he says to them --
Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Now this passage does not justify slavery. And in another passage Paul encourages slaves to work towards purchasing their freedom. But some believers did find themselves as slaves – and Paul says something to them that’s astonishing.
He says – “You are serving the Lord Christ.” In other words if you find that you are a slave, then the work you are called to do as a slave is work that Jesus Christ is calling you to do. As you feed the pigs and empty the latrines you are serving the Lord Christ.
So apply this to your work. Whether you are a CEO or a stay-at-home-mom or a contract worker – it’s Jesus who calls you to do your work. Which makes every job meaningful. It’s Jesus who says – file these dental records. And then who smiles as you file them well. It’s Jesus who says – change this diaper. And who is pleased as you change it well. It’s Jesus who says motivate this sales team. And who feels pleasure as you pursue that in obedience to Him.
And Jesus says our work will be even more meaningful as we do it with excellence to display His glory – and as we use our work to meet lost people and help them come to know Jesus. But the point is that whatever position you find yourself in – then as long as you are in that position it’s Jesus who is calling you to do that work.
It doesn’t get more meaningful than that.
Second, God’s grace can motivate us in our work. Let’s say you have been asked to put together a budget for your team – and you hate doing budgets. You would rather do anything else than put together a budget. So what should you do?
Understand that Jesus Christ is standing before you – with grace to motivate you. You can see that in this same verse – Colossians 3. Let’s read it again –
Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily [that’s motivation], as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
So why would slaves do their work of feeding pigs and emptying latrines heartily? Why should you put together a budget heartily? It’s because you are doing it ultimately for the Lord – and because He will reward you for your work on that budget with the inheritance – which means even more joy in Him forever.
Now here’s some fine print. We don’t earn the joys of heaven by our obedience. It’s all by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. But in His mercy God has chosen to mercifully reward our acts of faith with even more joy in heaven forever.
So if you are facing more dishes to wash, or more emails to answer, or another trip to take – and lacking motivation – ask Jesus to motivate you. Say something like – “Jesus it’s ultimately You who has called me to wash the dishes, answer the email, take that trip – and as I do it in your name, trusting You, you will reward me with even more joy in heaven forever. Use those truths to motivate me!”
Praying in that way can turn the kitchen sink – or your desk – or your seat on Southwest Airlines – into holy ground.
Third -- God’s grace can help with our inadequacies at work. Many of us have jobs to do for which we don’t feel adequate. And maybe we aren’t. But the good news is that Jesus will help us with our inadequacies.
To see this turn to Exodus 4. God has called Moses to a very high level diplomatic mission – to go to Pharaoh, a world ruler, and ask Pharaoh to free his slave-labor – the people of Israel. And Moses was keenly aware of his inadequacies – as we can see in v.10 --
But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."
And look at how God answers in vv.11-12 --
Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
Yes, Moses was inadequate for the job. And we can often feel inadequate. But when we feel inadequate – we need to understand that Jesus Christ is standing in front of us saying – I will be with you in your inadequacies and accomplish my perfect will through your inadequacies.
Now that doesn’t mean that we will always succeed spectacularly. Remember what happened to Moses the first time he went to Pharaoh? Pharaoh kicked him out and penalized all of Israel. But the point is that God will work through our inadequacies to accomplish His perfect will for us.
So when you feel inadequate – trust Jesus to be with you to accomplish His perfect will.
Fourth -- God’s grace can give us wisdom in our work. Turn to James chapter one. How often do you face a problem at work and don’t know what to do? So what do you do when that happens?
What we need to understand is that Jesus is always standing before us – ready to give us all the wisdom we need for every problem we face.
You can see that in James 1:5 --
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Now -- we have to ask. But if we will ask -- God will give us all the wisdom we need, generously and without any reproach.
He might give wisdom through asking counsel from others. Or through listing pros and cons and weighing alternatives. Or through supernaturally speaking to you by the Holy Spirit. But He will always give you all the wisdom you need.
But how often when you have a problem at work – and don’t ask Him for wisdom? How often do you assume that you’ve got to take care of it yourself? Don’t ever do that again! Every time you face a problem and need wisdom – if you will ask, God will give you all the wisdom you need.
Fifth -- God’s grace can resolve problems in our work. Turn to Psalm 50. We all know what it is to face problems at work. Maybe you are in danger of losing an account. Or maybe a program keeps crashing. Maybe you need to find more business. Or maybe you can’t get control of your classroom.
So what should we do when problems arise at work? Look at what God says in Psalm 50:15 --
And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
This is an astonishing promise. Here God is talking about a day of trouble – which covers every problem you will ever face – including all your work-related problems.
And when you are in a day of trouble – God invites you to call upon Him for help. Stop everything – maybe get down on your knees – and ask Him in Jesus’ name – “Help me. Father, help me.” And when you ask, He promises – “I will deliver you.” Every single time. Without fail. God will always deliver you.
Now often that deliverance means that things circumstantially become better – God keeps you from losing the account, you find the bug in the program, you get more business, and you get your classroom under control.But – sometimes God’s deliverance takes a different shape. Sometimes it does not mean that things circumstantially become better.
But in every case – God will do what will bring you closest to Him. God will do what will enable you to enjoy Him the most and glorify Him the most – and after all – that’s the true deliverance.
So when you face a problem at work – Jesus Christ is standing before You ready to deliver you.
Sixth -- God’s grace can satisfy us in Himself as we work. To see this turn to John 6. It’s easy to feel unsatisfied at work. Maybe it’s because we are not being recognized. Maybe because we are not being treated fairly. Maybe it’s because the work is just plain hard.
But does this mean you have to feel unsatisfied for 40 – 50 – 60 – 70 hours a week? Not at all. Look at what Jesus says in John 6:35 --
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
Here Jesus is speaking of heart-hungers and heart-thirsts – times when our hearts are not satisfied. And he promises that if we will come to Him and believe in Him – He will make His presence so real to us that we will be fully satisfied.
It’s not that we come to Him once at the beginning of our Christian lives – and then we are in this steady-state of satisfaction for the rest of our lives. No. He’s saying that every time heart-hungers and thirsts arise – if we will turn to Him and trust in Him – He will satisfy us again and again and again.
So what this means is that you can be fully satisfied in any job. Not that you should not look for other jobs. Jesus might lead you to do that. But no matter the job – you can always be fully satisfied – not in the job, but in Him.
So how would you do this? You’d start each day coming to Jesus in the Word and prayer – asking Him to satisfy you with the truth of who He is. Then throughout the day when you take breaks – think of a memorized verse or open up God’s Word and fellowship with Him in the truth of who He is. When you do that – He will satisfy you.
So understand that as you are at work – Jesus is always standing before you – ready to satisfy you in Himself.
Questions?
So here’s my challenge. Take one of these six truths – the one that hit home the most with you – and ask the Lord to use it to impact your work this week.