Work is a Blessing
I have the privilege of working with helicopters. Much of my work over the past three years has been on ensuring the safety of our aircrews. The analysis has resulted in planning and implementing some improvements while we constantly reassess the impact of the updates. The problem is complex, and a lot of people are involved and interested in a fast implementation, which has made the last year or so really stressful.
So it might surprise you to hear me saying, “Work is a blessing.” But, I can say that for at least two reasons:
Our work done well can be a blessing to others
Our work can bless us.
The improvements in safety that have resulted from the analysis I worked on have been a blessing to anyone onboard the aircraft. And the work has been a blessing for me as well. Sure, I’ve been paid to compensate for the time and stress. But, I’ve also turned to the Lord in prayer for help, and I often find it fulfilling to use the gifts He has given me for good. Additionally, I have seen that God is true in that the effects of sin include death, and now it is by the sweat of our brow that we hold back the chaos that works against us. In these and other ways I’ve certainly been blessed.
Think about this in your life. Given some time, I’ll bet you can recall a number of times when others were blessed by your work. Don’t just think in terms of safety. It may be that you helped someone’s education, or their graduation process go smoothly, or their computer software to reduce user errors. You may have provided counsel that gave someone hope or wisdom. You may have helped someone see the beauty of God through what you produced. Or, you helped others provide their services as a blessing to their customers.
We have biblical examples of work being a blessing too. In Exodus 31:2 we see God calling Bezalel and Oholiab into the work of constructing the Tabernacle. Then beginning in chapter 35:30 that work is launched.
30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.
36 “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded.” (Exodus 35:30–36:1)
God has given outstanding skills to these two men, and they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. In the chapters after this text, we see them following the plans God gave to Moses for His Tabernacle, and putting to good use the generous giving of materials from their Israelite community. They lead the construction team, not only using their skills directly, but teaching others to grow in their craft as well. It seems the whole team worked as a response of worship to the God who had just a couple of chapters earlier had forgiven them for breaking covenant and restored them to a right relationship. They were motivated by the good news of the grace they had been given, that God was still going to dwell with them!
The blessings they experienced were enormous:
They worked as free people, no longer slaves of Egypt, and the cloud of God’s presence was near.
Their skills multiplied as they worked in community and taught one another their skills and wisdom.
Their artistry depicted that God the Creator is enthroned over the whole cosmos.
Their work was enjoyed for nearly 500 years.
They learned after completion that God himself was pleased to dwell with them in the tabernacle they had worked on.
I am not sure they realized it while construction was in progress, but once God’s glory entered the tabernacle, I am sure their work was a blessing to them. For years to come they would look upon their work with satisfaction.
Take some time and talk with the Lord about your work. If you struggle to sense God’s presence with you during work, or to see work as a blessing, talk with your missional community or DNA group and ask them for their insights. Work truly can be a response to the gospel of grace, the faithful stewarding of the skills and knowledge that God has entrusted to us for being a blessing. Seeing and understanding that work done well is a blessing to yourself and to others is beneficial for reshaping your approach and move you towards glorifying God in the work. In doing this, we can better enjoy our what we are doing and display that His gospel is a powerful and practical blessing for His people.