Working

Some would say that there is a dichotomy between bearing the name of Christian and the work that we do, if our job title has nothing to do with Church or Ministry work.

It's a false dichotomy.

Seriously.

For those who bear the name of Christian, ALL is ministry (With the admission that certain illegal and all immoral careers obviously don't fall into this category.)

Yes, Jesus called the 12 away from their careers to follow Him in His public ministry, but my argument is going back to Genesis in the garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve were created to walk with God but they also had the responsibility to steward the Earth.  The effect of the Fall is that man finds work to be painfully unrewarding, as the intimate communion of the Garden was broken.  His work no longer brings joy as when He worked with God.

God's plan of redemption through out history has been to reconcile man to Himself and restore the relationship on all levels.  This plan of redemption also includes God reestablishing His kingdom and dominion on Earth.

God could easily bring His kingdom about by force or coercion.  But He hasn't.  He's done it by love.  Sending His Son Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin, revealing the love of the Father that would do anything to win the hearts of His image-bearers back to Him.

Not only did the Fall break the relationship between God and man, it also gave dominion to Satan on Earth.  We've been under him ever since.

When God took on humanity, lived the perfect life, died our death and then conquered death, He broke the hold of Satan on humanity.  Satan's kingdom didn't just disappear but now those who trust in Jesus, they are rescued from the Kingdom of Satan into God's Kingdom of Life.  So the Kingdom of God increases with those who turn to trust His leadership, who follow Him with all of their lives and through the work of Holy Spirit bring Jesus' kingdom and life where ever they go and into whatever they do.

As Jesus taught the disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Paul also taught the early church to work as though working for the Lord and not for men.  This is what it means to put ourselves under His leadership.  Our intent at work, whatever our job title, is to bring His kingdom and push back the darkness and dominion of Satan.  Love.  Pray.  Work.  Know that you have the opportunity to make His name famous, to influence others to see and meet, and come to to know and trust the King.

We work, in all various fields, giving our best.  We love and care for those we work with and work for.  We strive for excellence and the final approval we look for is God.  We work to catch His attention.  We are faithful in all the little jobs we have to do.  This is the faithfulness and integrity that God looks for.  And we also take part in our call to subdue the Earth, as well as, love our neighbors as ourselves.  These two things done under Jesus' leadership are what push back the kingdom of darkness (For we could do them under our own leadership or the leadership of another and Satan wouldn't budge and inch).

This is the end we work towards because this we're on the way to Eternity.  God will come and finish establishing His kingdom back on Earth, and we want to be found working when He does.