Category: You (All) Are Rewarded

Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV) – For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (NIV) – When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

There is a song by Keith Green called, “He’ll Take Care of the Rest,” which talks about God taking care of us when we simply obey his calling. For all of his people, God will “take care of the rest” – our families, homes, possessions, and labors — as we seek his kingdom first. Jesus promises that all “these things will be given,” which indicates that, rather than being dependent on economic conditions or the market, our jobs are a gift from the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, we ask for your supernatural provision to cover our jobs, finances, and resources in this season. We thank you for the gifts of all of the good things in our lives as from your hand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

– NB

Mark 12:29-31 (NIV) – “The most important one [i.e., commandment],” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

“Paul calls leaders into mutual submission with those they lead. Many commentators and scholars argue about what ‘in the same way’ means. Simply put, leaders are called to lead your workgroups, ministries, small groups, families, households — even ourselves! — to cultivate a climate of Shema-shaped work. The Lord calls those in leadership to make it easy for those under them to see that the Lord is their Master, and to make it easy for them to see that their work for the Lord is part of their whole-person, life worship.” [paraphrased from N. Briggs’ message]

We are all leaders, beginning with leading our neighbor toward God’s love. Perhaps the most immediate way to apply Jesus’ command is in our everyday work relationships. Today, how can we guide our co-workers, those in our households, and those in our ministry toward God’s love?

As we reflect this, let’s worship to “Build My Life” (click here) by Housefires.

Prayer: Lord, build my life on your love, and lead me with your love in my workplace, in my family, and in my ministry. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

– NB

Genesis 39:2-6 (NIV) – The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Joseph exemplifies God’s heart to bless others through the work of his called people. Whether fulfilling his duties as a servant of Potiphar, finding success even in prison, or stewarding God’s favor as second-in-command to Pharaoh, Joseph understood his role as a “pipeline” of God’s blessing to those around him.

We, too, are called to steward and guide God’s blessing and favor to those in our workplaces, homes and ministries. With this heart, let’s worship to the song “Great Things” (click here) by Phil Wickham.

Prayer: Lord, let your blessing and favor fill the places where I labor, work and serve. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

– NB

Ephesians 5:17-18 (NIV) – Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:6 (NIV) – Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

“One spectacular point that came out during our last campus “Career Night” was that you somehow need to convince your prospective employer that you are an asset and not a liability, whether on your resume or in your interview. Thinking about our passage today, I feel like that captures Paul’s urging to work at our labors from our heart perspective, as if we are doing God’s will! What more of an asset would an employer need than someone who looks at their job as a gift from God, and as doing God’s will? What more of an asset could we be in ministry if we truly understood all of our labors in trying to love another person as being God’s will?” [paraphrase from N. Briggs’ message]

Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the work that you have given us to do. Lord, we ask that you would lead us each moment in obedience to you in our work, studies and ministry. We profess once again that we are servants of the Lord in everything we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

– NB

Ephesians 6:5-8 (NIV) – Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart [HEART], just as you would obey Christ. ⁶ Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart [SOUL]. ⁷ Serve wholeheartedly [STRENGTH], as if you were serving the Lord, not people, ⁸ because you know [MIND] that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

“Our work is part of our WHOLE person. Our view of our bosses, coworkers, fellow ministry members reflects our WHOLE person worship before the Lord. Think about the opposite – if we find that we work half-heartedly, unenthusiastically, only when the boss or others are looking, only when we are doing our own will — what does this say about our worship?” – [from N. Briggs’ message]

Work is a matter of worship, as we see the Shema-shaped exhortation Paul gives in Ephesians 6:5-8. What elements of our lives need to be brought into whole person worship before the Lord in our studies, work and ministry efforts?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the calling to work where we are now. We ask that you would fill us with the Spirit so that we can work with a renewed energy and passion for you. Form our hearts with a sincerity to please the one who has called us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

– NB