Dear Family and Friends,

Let’s begin with a question.

Did last week’s message – So, who are you? – leave you a bit uneasy? Perhaps the idea of introducing yourself as a Christ follower was a bit too challenging?

I’ve been there. It’s awkward to do. And given the caustic nature pervading society, we may be judged and labeled before we’re able to show just how sweet and adorable we really are…

But what if I showed you how, by obeying scripture, it’s possible to share who we are and what we do at the same time?

You all know my story. I was like most of you, working in the secular world for most of my life.

During that time, God blessed me with a myriad of good jobs. And He led me to a career that was more than one could ever ask for or imagine.

But God kept the best for last. Despite how good all these jobs were, my best ‘job’ ever was when I became a pastor and then pastored a church.

I still remember folks approaching me and kindly asking how I liked my role at church.

My response was always: I love my job. I can’t believe God gave me a ‘job’ where all He asks is for me to love Him and love people!

My job description came from Matthew 22:37-39.

All the other tasks that had to be done were ways in which to love. Preaching was a way to love God and others. Leading the congregation and staff were ways to love others.

My primary assignment at church was to love. Everything else fell under that umbrella.

My simple message for us today is this: Whatever you find yourself doing in life, whether you are employed, retired or somewhere in between, your ‘real job’ is to love God and love others.

This assignment is not limited to pastors. It’s for all believers.

“Each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.” 1 Corinthians 7:17 NIV

The world works to make money, achieve status and authority, gain an identity, etc.

But that’s not who we are and that’s not why we work.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That said, let’s redefine the purpose, the reason why we work, and not look at our jobs and activities as the world does.

God placed us where we are, to do what we do, for a purpose – to love. To be a light in a darkened world.

Let’s also redefine the things that we do, the tasks for which we get paid (or not), as ways to show our love for God and others.

How do we love others in our workplace or activities?

It starts with assuming the same posture Jesus took throughout His ministry – that of a humble servant.

Jesus set the example for us to follow. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:43-45 NIV

Now, with this new perspective on what we do, how do we respond to someone who asks what we do?

Let’s not answer as the world does.

Let’s instead say something like: My job is to love others. I do so by serving them in the following ways…

Everything Jesus taught and did was counter to the ways of the world.

By redefining what we do in a way that’s also counter cultural, we share the Gospel – without saying a word.

And share who we really are – followers of Christ Jesus.

In love always,