Recently at City Seminary, which is put on by Austin City Life, we studied the Doctrine of a Creator in a Material World. As I thought more about the Creator God, His purpose in Creation, and the value of creation itself, it inspired me to think about how this might affect my job. Honestly, there are some days where I struggle to find purpose in my job. If I do find purpose, I tend to only think in terms of self-fulfillment, or having my needs met. There is a far greater, deeper, and glorious truth about the purpose of our work, and it's found in the doctrine of creation. I will follow the outline we used at City Seminary, that we believe creation was created by a triune God, from ex nihilo( out of nothing), and is going to Christ.
Triune God Creating: As I meditate on the thought that a triune God created out of an overflow of love, community, and deference within themselves, it inspires me to do work together. I can defer to those who are more skilled than I am, and enjoy seeing them create and work. There is beauty in community accomplishing goals. Working at our jobs can be an expression and exercise of this communal, deferring act of creating. How would my co-workers respond, when instead of trying to stroke my ego, I defer to them and praise them for their skills?!
Ex- Nihilo: Out of Nothing: God created a masterpiece out of nothing. Though at times our jobs seem mundane and meaningless, we serve a Creator who created everything out of nothing, and He continues to do so. We can trust that He, as Creator God, can take the mundane, and paint a masterpiece for His glory. Rest in His sufficiency to work wonders, and not our own skills. Our creativity at our jobs reflect this aspect of God. How can we make our workplaces a more creative, and better place to work? Think how God might use your skills to create out of the mundane.
Purposeful: To and For Christ: This aspect affected my thoughts most profoundly. The purpose of my job isn't found in my needs being met, or my own self-fulfillment, nor is it merely meaningless and mundane. But rather, my job has purpose because it is going somewhere. It's not climbing the career ladder, but going to Christ. It is also for Christ. It's not a stagnant job, but with creation is on a path of renewal, by the Spirit, towards Christ, as He carries and upholds it. MY job has telos, or goal, because creation does.
I hope this will be encouraging to all those who tend to "over-spritualize" ministry, and "over-secularize" their jobs(Hugh Halter). Praying that our roles at work would display a Creator God, who is still creating.
Triune God Creating: As I meditate on the thought that a triune God created out of an overflow of love, community, and deference within themselves, it inspires me to do work together. I can defer to those who are more skilled than I am, and enjoy seeing them create and work. There is beauty in community accomplishing goals. Working at our jobs can be an expression and exercise of this communal, deferring act of creating. How would my co-workers respond, when instead of trying to stroke my ego, I defer to them and praise them for their skills?!
Ex- Nihilo: Out of Nothing: God created a masterpiece out of nothing. Though at times our jobs seem mundane and meaningless, we serve a Creator who created everything out of nothing, and He continues to do so. We can trust that He, as Creator God, can take the mundane, and paint a masterpiece for His glory. Rest in His sufficiency to work wonders, and not our own skills. Our creativity at our jobs reflect this aspect of God. How can we make our workplaces a more creative, and better place to work? Think how God might use your skills to create out of the mundane.
Purposeful: To and For Christ: This aspect affected my thoughts most profoundly. The purpose of my job isn't found in my needs being met, or my own self-fulfillment, nor is it merely meaningless and mundane. But rather, my job has purpose because it is going somewhere. It's not climbing the career ladder, but going to Christ. It is also for Christ. It's not a stagnant job, but with creation is on a path of renewal, by the Spirit, towards Christ, as He carries and upholds it. MY job has telos, or goal, because creation does.
I hope this will be encouraging to all those who tend to "over-spritualize" ministry, and "over-secularize" their jobs(Hugh Halter). Praying that our roles at work would display a Creator God, who is still creating.