Read Romans 12:1 and Colossians 3:23 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
1. In Romans 12:1, how are our bodies described?
2. Why are we told to worship God in this way?
3. According to Colossians 3:23, how and why should we work?
Reflect
Work is not only a gift and a form of ministry, it’s also worship to God. Worship is embodied in the way we live. It’s presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable for Him to do whatever He wants in us and through us, including on the job.
We work as an act of worship; we don’t worship work. We don’t turn our jobs or careers into the ultimate, most important thing, doing anything and everything to get ahead. We approach our work with commitment and character. We’re not only working for our company or boss, we’re working for God. It’s not just about what we do. It’s about who we are as we do it.
Because we work for God, He defines what success looks like. It starts with things like showing up on time, having integrity, treating people with dignity and respect, being honest, not cutting corners or doing things unethically, and honoring leadership. Here’s a recap of the scorecard for success we saw on Sunday (adapted from Peter Scazzero’s book, Emotionally Healthy Discipleship):
1. Live healthy rhythms of being with Jesus, embracing your God-given limits.
2. Actively listen to Jesus as you lead and serve.
3. Give your best time and energy to a healthy marriage or singleness before leading others.
4. Invest in a few intentional, discipling relationships.
5. Lead and serve from who you are, not pretending to be someone you’re not.
Respond
What small daily choices can you make to approach your work as worship? Does anything in the scorecard strike you as an area to grow? Write down at least two practical things you can do today, and follow through on one of them.