Work is Not Worship, But Worship God When You Work
Work is Not Worship, But Worship God When You Work
The notion that “work is worship” has been widely propagated and popularised over time, leading many to accept it as truth. However, in reality, this belief does not hold true.
According to Hitler, a lie repeated frequently enough will
eventually be accepted as truth by the masses. The notion that “work is
worship” has been widely propagated and popularised over time, leading many to
accept it as truth. However, in reality, this belief does not hold true. Work
is not worship. The idea is deeply rooted in Hindu philosophy. The English word
“worship” comes from the Old English “weordscipe” (pronounced worth-ship),
which means “worthiness” or “the condition of being worthy”. Worship, both in
biblical languages and practice, involves prostration, submission, and giving
honour to the one who is worthy. So, in Christian theology, worship is the reverent
devotion and adoration of God, acknowledging His supreme worth and holiness.
So, work, in itself, is not an act of worship, for it is neither the object of
our adoration nor worthy of our reverence.
While working, some may mistreat others by mocking, offending,
or humiliating them with their words, causing harm and discord. If our work in
any way displeases God, it cannot be considered an act of worship. True worship
honours Him completely, and anything that dishonours Him falls short of that
standard. Only God is worthy of our worship, and nothing that diminishes His
glory can rightly be called worship. Many hardworking individuals take pride in
their endless toil, believing that work itself is an act of worship. Yet, in
their devotion to labour, work subtly takes the place of God, becoming an idol
in their hearts. Work should never be idolised; rather, we must glorify God
through our laboor.
Work is part of God’s divine design. Contrary to the belief
of many Christians, work was never a consequence of sin or a curse. Rather, it
is a sacred gift from God. In the beginning, there was work. God worked for six
days. God is holy and perfect. He remained active in His work even after
bringing the universe into existence. Jesus said in John 5:17, “My Father has
been working until now, and I have been working.” If God Himself worked, work
cannot be bad. The concept and commandment of work were established even before
the Fall (Genesis 1:28; 2:15). Being created in the image of God, we are called
to work. However, sin brought corruption – not only to us but also to the earth
and our labour. Yet, Jesus Christ came not only to redeem us but to restore the
entire universe, including the very work of our hands.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians
2:10). We are His masterpiece, recreated in Christ Jesus for good works. This
is redemption in the light of work. Jesus came not only to save us and take us
to heaven but to restore us to our true purpose – walking faithfully in the
good works that God prepared for us since the beginning of time. Because we
hold to the doctrine that salvation comes by faith alone and not by works, the
theology of work is often overlooked in our churches. Yet, it is vital to
understand that we have been recreated for good works. For what ultimate
purpose? To glorify God. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
How should we work then? Whatever we do, we should do to the
glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). Air is essential for our survival, yet we do not
live merely to breathe. In the same way, we need food to sustain us, but we do
not work chiefly for food, though providing for our needs is part of labour.
Our ultimate purpose in work is to honour and glorify God in all that we do.
However, meaning of life is not found in work; rather, we live a meaningful
life by working for the glory of God. Spirituality is not confined to church
activities such as prayer, fasting, preaching, or teaching. Rather, everything
we do – wherever we are – becomes spiritual when our hearts are fully devoted
to God and dedicated to His glory and Kingdom. True spirituality is holistic,
encompassing every aspect of life in service to Him. Therefore, we should not
create a false divide between the secular and the sacred. The true opposite of
sacred is not secular – it is profanity.
It is a misconception to believe that only missionaries,
evangelists, pastors, preachers, and teachers are full-time Christian workers,
while others are not. All are full-time Christians and full-time workers of
Christ. It is simply that we are placed differently. By embracing this correct
theology, we can avoid the trap and illusion that certain compromises at work
can be justified simply by giving money to the church, contributing to church
construction, helping the poor, or donating to charity. All that we posses –
our gifts, talents, and abilities – comes from God (Psalm 24:1). We are not
owners but stewards, entrusted with His blessings (Gen.1:28). Therefore, we
should live with humility, always giving credit where it is due. John the
Baptist said, “He must increase, I must decrease (John 3:30).” Do not seek to
be the sun; instead, be the moon. The moon does not shine by its own power but
reflects the light of the sun. In the same way, we are called to reflect the
light of Christ rather than seeking our own glory. Jesus warned us against
performing deeds for the sake of appreciation, fame, or recognition. Instead,
let our life and actions serve as a reflection of God’s presence within you.
This brings to mind the purpose of image – to reflect. Just as a mirror
captures and displays our likeness, we, as bearers of God’s image, must reflect
His character in our lives and deeds. Let his light shine through you, so that
others may seem Him in all you do (Matthew 5:16).
When God works, humanity reaps the benefits. His desire is
for us to be fruitful. A fruitful tree does not consume its own produce;
rather, its fruits nourish birds, animals, and people alike. Likewise, when we
labour, we are not meant to be selfish or consumed by greed. Instead, we are
called to be a blessing, generously sharing the gifts God has entrusted to us.
Loving our neighbour as ourselves is the second greatest commandment given by
Jesus Christ. Just as we desire to be clothed and fed, we are called to share
our resources with those in need. Success should not be mistaken for
fruitfulness; many achieve success but remain unfruitful. A tree is not
identified by its leaves but by the fruit it bears.
Since we are created for good works, idleness is not just
unproductive – it is a failure to live out our purpose. Instead of succumbing
to laziness, as followers of Jesus Christ – the source of all goodness – we
should be eager to engage in any form of work. Our society makes a grave
mistake by glorifying white-collar jobs while looking down on agriculture and
other essential labour. The common saying that diligent students become
officers while those who struggle in school end up as farmers is misleading.
Every kind of work has value, and we must uphold, respect, and promote the
dignity of labour in all its forms.
When we work, we must do so with all our hearts, as unto the
Lord rather than for men (Colossians 3:23). The unwavering awareness that we
are serving the Lord motivates us to work diligently, free from murmuring or
complaint. It strengthens our resolve to persevere, even when our efforts go
unnoticed, unappreciated, or unacknowledged by those around us. Our labour
should not be driven primarily by family obligations, survival, fame or
reputation, but by a desire to honour and glorify God. While work itself is not
worship, we should worship Him through our work. In all that we do, let it be
for His glory.
