Taking our Sunday Faith to Monday Work
By Steve Gregg
As a pastor, there are many conversations that have stuck with me over the years. One in particular, however, often comes to mind this time of year as summer wraps up and school begins. It took place a number of years ago when, as part of the service, a Creeksider shared their testimony of how the gospel and their faith impacted them as an educator, and how they saw their vocation as a calling from the Father, and the children they worked with as their ministry. It was clear that this sister saw her role as a teacher to be a key part of her faithfully being light and salt, and a witness for the goodness of the Gospel.
After the service ended, a woman who was also in education, and someone I had known for years, approached me. With tears in her eyes, she told me that for the first time in all her years of attending church she felt like what she did as a job was valued and important. Until hearing that sister’s testimony, she thought that in the church’s eyes her secular job only had value in that it provided money to give to full time ministry and missions.
My initial reaction was immense gratitude that this dear sister had so clearly heard how important her daily work was, and that the Father was working through her in important ways. And yet I suddenly felt my stomach tighten as reality sunk in. This sister had been in church for decades, including Creekside – how could we have given the impression that our people’s lives from Monday through Friday were only good for the finances they generated? It was humbling and deeply convicting.
At Creekside we are very grateful for the dozens and dozens of alumni who have gone into full-time ministry, serving in churches, parachurch organizations, and in a wide range of international mission fields. We rightly celebrate that important kingdom work; however, we also want to celebrate and not lose sight of the other vital kingdom work that is being done in workplaces and homes and schools around us every day..
Martin Luther, the reformer, said:
…the works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they may be, do not differ one whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks…all works are measured before God by faith alone.
As we begin another school year, please know that whatever it is God has called you to do, whether it is a career outside the house or in the home, whether you are salaried or you serve in some volunteer aspect, or whether you are a student preparing for your future, God sees it as important and impactful. Work was a part of Creation before the fall and is therefore a gift. Know that what you do and how you do it has a kingdom impact as you are light and salt in the world.
As a pastor, there are many conversations that have stuck with me over the years. One in particular, however, often comes to mind this time of year as summer wraps up and school begins. It took place a number of years ago when, as part of the service, a Creeksider shared their testimony of how the gospel and their faith impacted them as an educator, and how they saw their vocation as a calling from the Father, and the children they worked with as their ministry. It was clear that this sister saw her role as a teacher to be a key part of her faithfully being light and salt, and a witness for the goodness of the Gospel.
After the service ended, a woman who was also in education, and someone I had known for years, approached me. With tears in her eyes, she told me that for the first time in all her years of attending church she felt like what she did as a job was valued and important. Until hearing that sister’s testimony, she thought that in the church’s eyes her secular job only had value in that it provided money to give to full time ministry and missions.
My initial reaction was immense gratitude that this dear sister had so clearly heard how important her daily work was, and that the Father was working through her in important ways. And yet I suddenly felt my stomach tighten as reality sunk in. This sister had been in church for decades, including Creekside – how could we have given the impression that our people’s lives from Monday through Friday were only good for the finances they generated? It was humbling and deeply convicting.
At Creekside we are very grateful for the dozens and dozens of alumni who have gone into full-time ministry, serving in churches, parachurch organizations, and in a wide range of international mission fields. We rightly celebrate that important kingdom work; however, we also want to celebrate and not lose sight of the other vital kingdom work that is being done in workplaces and homes and schools around us every day..
Martin Luther, the reformer, said:
…the works of monks and priests, however holy and arduous they may be, do not differ one whit in the sight of God from the works of the rustic laborer in the field or the woman going about her household tasks…all works are measured before God by faith alone.
As we begin another school year, please know that whatever it is God has called you to do, whether it is a career outside the house or in the home, whether you are salaried or you serve in some volunteer aspect, or whether you are a student preparing for your future, God sees it as important and impactful. Work was a part of Creation before the fall and is therefore a gift. Know that what you do and how you do it has a kingdom impact as you are light and salt in the world.