Thursday, September 26, 2013
Your work makes money... and that's a God thing
Work is your witness. We live Jesus lives in the world with the intention of causing people to ask the reason for our hope.
Work is your ministry. Many Christians work in fields that directly help and serve people in this world. That is a very Jesus thing to do.
Work also provides income. That is how most of us generate our income. God approves of that. I would even say your income is a God thing. Here is why.
Income allows you to provide for the needs of your family. Food, clothes, and shelter are provided by the money you generate.
Income lets you give to your community of faith. Ministries, missionaries, kingdom programs are all supported by the local church. Income lets you be part of this.
You can give to other kingdom works. Support non-profits that are doing kingdom work in the name of Jesus.
Send your friends and family -- or yourself -- on mission trips.
Making money lets you take people to lunch. It may a kingdom warrior who needs encouragement. Or needs a meal. It may be someone in your community of faith who needs encouragement or accountability. It may be someone who needs to hear a Jesus story. Or someone hungry who needs a meal in the name of Jesus.
But work produced income is not so we can all buy bigger and better things for us. That is not God work.
But kingdom business is. I love Lydia, the businesswoman who supported Paul's mission team. I love Paul who sometimes worked to support himself, and maybe other preachers. I love Barnabus who used his resources to feed those in his community of faith. Ananias and Sapphira too. Well, until they tried to make it all about them and not God.
So thank God for your employment. Celebrate your raises. Give generously. Use the money of this world to make a difference in the world to come.
Make lots of money. Give most of it to kingdom work. Thank God. Repeat.
Work is your ministry. Many Christians work in fields that directly help and serve people in this world. That is a very Jesus thing to do.
Work also provides income. That is how most of us generate our income. God approves of that. I would even say your income is a God thing. Here is why.
Income allows you to provide for the needs of your family. Food, clothes, and shelter are provided by the money you generate.
Income lets you give to your community of faith. Ministries, missionaries, kingdom programs are all supported by the local church. Income lets you be part of this.
You can give to other kingdom works. Support non-profits that are doing kingdom work in the name of Jesus.
Send your friends and family -- or yourself -- on mission trips.
Making money lets you take people to lunch. It may a kingdom warrior who needs encouragement. Or needs a meal. It may be someone in your community of faith who needs encouragement or accountability. It may be someone who needs to hear a Jesus story. Or someone hungry who needs a meal in the name of Jesus.
But work produced income is not so we can all buy bigger and better things for us. That is not God work.
But kingdom business is. I love Lydia, the businesswoman who supported Paul's mission team. I love Paul who sometimes worked to support himself, and maybe other preachers. I love Barnabus who used his resources to feed those in his community of faith. Ananias and Sapphira too. Well, until they tried to make it all about them and not God.
So thank God for your employment. Celebrate your raises. Give generously. Use the money of this world to make a difference in the world to come.
Make lots of money. Give most of it to kingdom work. Thank God. Repeat.
