…. One of Many Bad Myths!
Harmful myths can drive Christians to discouragement. For example, some people call full-time, Christian ministry the best work, claiming all secular work is less valuable. This myth harms the many people who love Jesus and work in a full time, secular career. Furthermore, another similar myth says that if Jesus were coming back today, if you would change the way you are living, then you are living the wrong way now. This myth disregards many honorable, mundane things God calls people to do, from chores to child care to secular jobs. God created a world where people need to work to make that world run, and God is pleased with people when they do their chores and jobs, as long as they rejoice in God while they work. Please join me as I debunk these myths that dishonor the humble work we must do to survive in our world.
Some Christians feel terrible, because they do not live their lives exactly like the Apostle Paul. That man only thought about preaching the Gospel to people, and he worked fervently to do so. His life was honorable, but it was a rare work, set apart by God for this special mission. Look at how Paul says this in Romans 1:1 “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the Gospel of God.” Many other verses confirm Paul’s unique calling as coming from God, (1Cor.1:1, 1Tim2:7, Acts 26:12-18, 1 Cor. 15:3-10, Gals. 2:8, 1 Cor.9:1-2.) God gave this special job to Paul, and not to most of the other believers. God has given other jobs to other people, and those people are not wrong for doing them. If everyone only preached the Gospel, who would grow crops for us to eat? We need farmers. If everyone only preached the Gospel, who would bind up wounds (like nurses and doctors), educate others (like teachers), or do the many other jobs we need to have done? We can honor God and work at these secular jobs with joy, knowing this is where God placed us. That means that those in the secular jobs are honoring God just as much as those he called to preach full time.
Consider these many verses about work: 1 Cor.10:31, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Cols.3:17, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, Giving thanks to God the father through him.” Provs.16:3a “Commit your work to the Lord…” Cols.3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” 2 Thess.3: 10b, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” Provs.14:23a “All hard work brings a profit.” Eccles.2:24-25 “There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of the God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?”
The second myth says, “If you knew that Jesus would come today, and if you would change anything about how you live, then you are not living the way you should live.” That is foolish. If I knew Jesus would come today, I would not need to go to the grocery store to buy food for tomorrow. I would not need to deep clean the crud in my home, because my family and I would be taken to heaven, where that crud would not matter anymore. But I must live my life here on earth, as if Jesus will tarry a long time. I am called to plan ahead for the future (Proverbs. 21:15 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit,” Isaiah 32:8 “But the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand,” and Ephs.5:15-17 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”) Yes I am also to live my life as if Jesus MIGHT come today, but that does not mean I don’t do my mundane chores. It simply means I must love others and tell them about Jesus, as I do my, at-times mundane, work.
These myths, of full-time Christian work being the only honorable work, and the idea that we should live our lives as if Jesus IS coming today can be harmful. These myths dishonor the chores God calls us to do. Cleaning an apartment or house is an act of service to the Lord, if we rejoice in having that house and the ability to clean it. If we thank God for the gift of an apartment or house and the ability to do the cleaning work, we are honoring God. Planning for the future by making a grocery list and then buying enough groceries for the future is not neglecting our spiritual duties. This is true of all the chores and work we do. As long as Jesus does not come back for us, we are to live our humble lives with joy, but also with steadfast hard work.
Remember that Lydia told Paul, “If you think I am a true believer in the Lord, come stay in my house,”(Acts 16:15.) She could say this, because she had the money from a career, plus a home to invite Paul and his companions into. If she had not been doing business (as a seller of purple dye) and also cooking, cleaning and caring for her home, she would have had nothing to offer the Apostle Paul. God did not call her to do all the traveling and evangelizing. God had called her to be a dealer in the purple dye and cloth, but also to be the manager of her household. She was a successful business woman, and also a successful manager of her home. And God honored her by listing her name in that Bible story. Lydia was doing the job God had called her to do, and God was pleased with her life.
God gave the Apostle Paul and modern day evangelists a special calling to serve God in full time ministry, while God gives other jobs outside that field to others. God is pleased with both evangelists and secular field workers who love and serve Him. God does not look down on us for faithfully pursuing the work he gives us. I pray I’ve helped free you of any false guilt coming from these myths that elevate Christian ministry over other work. Even our chores please God when we do them to his glory.
Thanks for joining us in this post. May the Lord bless you.