As we transition into "the real world," we find this doesn't change much. We get paid based on our performance at work. We receive raises if we work hard and excel at what we do. Sometimes we even have the opportunity to earn awards and bonuses.
From an early age, we learn that if we work hard we can earn money and gain success.
And then we wonder why we struggle with the idea of grace.
Don't get me wrong. With all of it's challenges, I think that Capitalism is a fine economic system. It's not perfect, but I would venture to guess that many of those issues stem from the imperfect people - including me - who live within this system.
So what do we do?
Do we live in a dichotomous world where we have our work/economic life separate from our religious life?
Do we try to find an economic system that might reflect grace?
Do we allow the idea of earning bleed into our theology and work hard to God's love and salvation?
I have seen people try all of these, and more, and none of them work.
Living a divided life where work and religion are seprated leads to frustration and confusion.
I have never seen a perfect economic system, despite many valiant efforts.
Trying to earn God's love and salvation leads to disappointment, and often legalism.
So what do we do? Let's consider Paul's words in the book of Ephesians...
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 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. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. (Ephesians 6:5-8 NIV)
While Paul is writing to slaves, I believe this principle applies to those of us who work for anyone.
Don't work for your employer or yourself. Don't be a hard worker beacuse of what it is in it for you; work because you're a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Ultimately, our allegiance is to the Kingdom. We are called to be agents of reconciliation and renewal. We bring light to the darkness, hope to the hopeless, and love to the unloved. That should be our focus at work, the "why" behind the how of our jobs.
But you might say, wait a minute, didn't Paul also say that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do? Those are the words in this passage, but we have to remember the larger context of the letter.
A few chapters earlier, Paul had written these words...
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV)
Our reward is not something we will earn; it is something we will receive because we live in the Kingdom. Instead of thinking of our reward as something we earn, think of it as something we receive as a result of living in a way that brings the presence of God into our midst.
Should we work hard in school, at our jobs, and in other aspects of our lives? Absolutely!
There's nothing wrong with wanting to earn an income, but remember that ultimately, our goal is to be a blessing when we are blessed. But as Paul reminds us in the passage above from Ephesians, are blessings are meant for us to use as opportunities to expand the borders of the Kingdom.
shine!
Jason
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