Death By Worship: The "Work" Idol

I love working with my hands. Whether with an instrument, cooking for the family, or building one of my kid’s Christmas gifts until midnight on Christmas Eve, I love creating something that results in a finished product. Yet there have been many moments in my life when I have caught myself in a cycle of work for work's sake, simply feeling like I need to be “doing something.” Have you been there too? Don’t get me wrong. Work can be a beautiful thing. In fact, work is a biblical thing. Paul wrote in the New Testament:

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." (Ephesians 4:28) "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Colossians 3:23-24)

The kind of work that God wants his children to do is the kind of work that leads to worship. C.S. Lewis put it like this: "It is not so much of our time and so much of our attention that God demands; it is not even all our time and all our attention; it is ourselves.” Work becomes a detriment in our lives when it becomes an idol – when it becomes our sole focus and attention – when it becomes our god. “But what if the work is for the Lord? And the work is good work?” One of the greatest damages to the soul we can cause is working for the Lord while leaving the Lord far behind. I’ve been in too many ministry environments where the work became the goal rather than the God the work was for — where the projects became more important than the people — where the service order overshadowed the service of the church.

"One of the greatest damages to the soul we can cause is working for the Lord while leaving the Lord far behind."

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When work for work's sake becomes the centerpiece of God’s house, church strategies may thrive while true worship slowly dies. We must not sacrifice our relationship with the Lord and our families on the altar of work. It is simply not worth it. A work can be good work, but if done without acknowledging the Creator of all things, the work will inevitably be missing something. You see, God’s desire for us is to enjoy the gift of His nearness and His glory in all that we do. When we remember that we are co-laborers, the pressure to achieve and accomplish decreases, and true joy and contentment increase.

Paul also addressed the church at Philippi about work when he wrote: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6) Whatever work that God begins comes with an assurance of absolute and perfect completion. The reality of God’s good work always provides the kind of rest that we desperately need. The results are not up to us. What God wants from us is simple obedience and faithfulness to do what He has called us to do in Christ Jesus. One of the greatest examples of a work/rest relationship is at the beginning of His story. The Creator fashioned and created, and then he rested. God was not lazy for taking the time to rest. He chose to take the time to reflect on the work and call it good.

In the Valley of Vision, one Puritan beautifully prayed:

“O God, Most High, Most Glorious, in the midst of my toil and turmoil, I cast myself upon Your perfect peace; where Your designs cause You no fear or care, grant me to rest in Your unfailing power and boundless goodness, and revive deep spirituality within my heart, that I may find true rest only in You."

In a world and culture that screams performance, God desires stillness. Some of the greatest work that we can accomplish is found in the stillness, and under the shadow of the cross. Through the work of Jesus Christ and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we find true rest beyond any earthly measure.

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Questions:

Have you found work to become your god?

What are the rhythms of rest in your own life?

Prayer:

Lord, in my working, may I not miss out on who the work is for. Help me in my striving to remember to pause. Help me in my pursuit to remember to rest. Let my day-to-day agenda be filled with moments of true worship to the God who deserves it all. In Jesus’ name. Amen.