April 2025 (Work Like God)

FBC Gallatin,

Our Healthy Church series in 1^st Timothy has introduced a variety of important biblical topics like church discipline, a plurality of pastor/elders, church rules, church family, widow care, and even the difficult topic of slavery during the New Testament times in chapter 6. And though we saw that slavery was never something positively affirmed and promoted in the Bible, it was a fallen reality of the world at that time, and God provided direction to the church in how to navigate life in a fallen world.

This particular theme and topic moved us from the biblical context of slavery to consider a Christian worldview of work and calling and the relationship between bosses and employees. And though there are of course differences, there are similarities in the relationship, and the instruction that Paul provided then relates to our workplaces today.

And to sum it up, Paul taught Timothy that he should teach the Christians in the church of Ephesus that the way they conducted themselves at work to unbelieving bosses and co-workers, had the potential to either promote the gospel and speak well of God, or to revile the gospel and God’s reputation due to their bad work ethic, attitude, and conduct. Paul also instructed Timothy and the church of Ephesus to treat Christians in the workplace with love and service as Christian family, and that we should want to see them succeed and help their businesses flourish by hard work and respect.

The problem in our day, is that oftentimes Christians don’t have a biblical worldview of the importance of excellent work ethic and attitude in our jobs. We can so easily get into a rut of thinking that work is meaningless and only a means to an end of just making it to the weekend. But on this topic, years ago at FBC back in 2020; I also preached a sermon from Genesis 1:28-31 titled “Work Like God” and unfolded the Christian worldview of work even prior to the fall. Work is not some drag that is only a result of sin. Genesis 3 and the fall into sin did cause work to have challenges to be sure, but work in itself is a creation ordinance from God and is intended for our good and flourishing.

God Himself created the world in the most productive workweek in the history of the world providing a model for us prior to the fall in six hard days of work and one needed day of rest. If we would just follow God’s example and see the why behind our work that Genesis 1 gives us deploying image bearers in their life and work to reflect God, and to learn also what we are to do by acting like God and reflecting Him or imaging Him in the tasks God gives us we can revolutionize our approach to our jobs. And not only does the Bible give us the why and what of work it also gives us the how which is in part what we saw from 1 Timothy 6:1-2 but also in Genesis 1:28-31 that we should do godly and excellent work to bless the world around us whether unbelievers catching a picture of our Christian witness at work, or to bless other believing Christian family to serve and do good to all those around us.

I guess the big take home in all of this is that we as believers should all seek our very best to work like God and approach our vocations not as some meaningless drag, but as an opportunity to reflect and image God in our lives using our creative faculties and job platform to live meaningful lives and do good to everyone around us even in the day-to-day grind at work.

I am praying for all of you that you might glorify God in your work. Would you pray the same for me and other Christians all around you as well? 

Sincerely,

Pastor Daniel Pelichowski