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Our hands are very useful things. We can probably all think of someone who is missing arms, or fingers, or legs. For folks in this situation normal things are more difficult, they can usually adapt, but things are more complicated.
Why would God want to limit Himself to work through our hands? He is the all-powerful creator of the world, is there really a need for Him to use our hands? Does He let us “help” so that we can feel good about ourselves?
We all know that there is work to do. Jesus certainly referred to the “work” that the Father had for Him. He sensed an obligation even from an early age. There is work to do, and God would like our hands to be busy.
Paul uses the term “servant” to talk about himself frequently. Peter and James also talk about being “servants of Jesus Christ.” We are not our own, we were bought with a price.
2 Corinthians 6:1 – God’s “co-workers,” we are working together with Him. We are involved in what gets done. We have an ownership stake in the agenda and we are invested in what is going on. We are in a partnership with God to accomplish His agenda and to work in His Kingdom.
God is looking for active partners who are willing to work long hours to get the job done. Workers who have a vision and some ownership.
What does the “work” of the Kingdom look like?
There is work for all of us to do. When we are partners with Christ and invested in His program, there is always plenty to do. We feel inadequate, not gifted enough, or maybe we aren’t in the right church office. If God is asking us to partner with Him, there is a value that we have to offer.
- John 13:44-45 – Love is more than a feeling. It is a choice, a decision, action. Perhaps sometimes it is even “work.” Loving and caring for each other is an effective witness, regardless of where you are on the globe.
- Galatians 6:9-10, Titus 3 – Do good. Doing good is more than just avoiding what is bad. Doing good is active. It isn’t just bemoaning the evil in the world around us. As Christians, we are called to “regular acts of goodness” not “random acts of goodness.” Look for opportunities to serve and help each other.
- 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13 – Providing. Too often we compartmentalize “working in the kingdom” and “working to feed my family.” Can we get too involved in our work? Yes, we can… but in our work, we should have good attitudes and do better work because we are a part of God’s Kingdom.
God wants to partner and work with us. It is overwhelming, but at the same time it should make us smile, and it should encourage us to keep on doing the work that we are called to.
1 Corinthians 15 – The work that we do when we are partnering with God, is not done in vain.
Scriptures used – John 9:3-4, Acts 13, 2 Corinthians 6:1, John 13:44-45, Galatians 6:9-10, Titus 3, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13, 1 Corinthians 15