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Approaching Work As Ministry
Brian Mashburn
October 2, 2016
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Approaching Work As Ministry
Have you ever thought about the distinction between "church work" and "the work of the church" and "the church working"? Of course, there is some overlap, but there is also a distinction that is important to take note of.
"Church work" is what we do for the organized institution of the church, and every church has a lot of it. Just like any family has a huge baseline of things that it must do to care for each other and function as a family, the church does, too. That is church work.
"The work of the church" is what we do for God as His agent on the earth. God commissioned us to share some really good news with people and invite them to believe it and follow Jesus into the best possible life available. Above all, our work is to do that disciple-making work with all out love for God and others.
"The church working" is when everyone in the church is scattered out there into the world to play a vital function (big or small) in the operation of that world. Everyone has a role to play on this planet, a work to do, that is not overtly spiritual, but is ours to do, and is not to be diminished in the slightest.
It is that third distinction that I want to dwell on today. Do you see your work as ministry? Do you see how your work contributes to your fellow human beings, and how it contributes to the functioning of society? Do you see that work as a ministry? How would do it if you did?
And do you see how important it is to God to send His church out working in the world, side by side with everyone else in the world?
God so loves the world. He sends you into it as an expression of His love. You need to (get to) see your work as ministry.