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Regardless of the kind or the place of our work,
encountering struggles at work is a familiar experience across the
board. In some cases, a Christian would even feel that it is
"better" not to be a Christian because the call to please
God in "all circumstances" is such a major struggle! I
recall a friend who said, "I only feel the struggle in the
marketplace when I attempt to please God. Before that, I can just
scold people when they have done wrong. But now, I have to think how
to scold them graciously!"
God created work to be a blessing but our
disobedience caused "painful toil" and "sweat"
to be a part of work. One example of the struggles people face in
the marketplace is the rapid rate of change of the working
environment. For instance, it is no longer true that we will be most
secure if we work in the most established company, or if we are the
most hardworking or most experienced employee. The unpredictable and
competitive environment has motivated employers to look beyond
experience for qualities such as flexibility, mobility and
creativity. In certain cases, "old hands" are liabilities
to employers. The world and the nature of work will go on changing,
inevitably causing stress, insecurity, anger, conflicts, a sense of
emptiness and despair. We need to face this reality honestly because
no one will be spared, including Christians.
Struggles at work is not a phenomenon unique to
the 21st century. Jacob, the cunning man had to work
seven years for Laban in exchange for Rachel. At the end of the
seventh year however, he was "double crossed" because
Laban gave him Rachel’s sister instead. Through deception, Laban
convinced Jacob to work for another seven years in order to have
Rachel too. Jacob actually toiled and laboured for another seven
years. How about Joseph? He was sold to be a slave of an Egyptian
captain. From being a favourite and privileged son, he became a
slave. He toiled faithfully and earned his master’s trust. In the
end however, he was accused and jailed for a crime he did not
commit. Aren’t these accounts similar to our struggles today,
where "survival of the fittest" in the marketplace means
injustice and betrayals? Daniel experienced similar troubles too.
Though he excelled in his work and was faithful to the king, he was
unjustly thrown into the lion’s den just because he chose to be
faithful to YHWH! Daniel’s account is a classic story of
"office politics".
Though God did not take away their struggles and
difficulties, God did give them one thing that helped them to pull
through every difficulty victoriously and successfully! What did God
give them? God gave them Himself and His presence! For instance:
Genesis 39:2; 20-21 –
"…the Lord was with Joseph and He prospered him…while
Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him."
Genesis 30:27 – If I
(Laban) have found favour in your (Jacob’s) eyes, please stay. I
have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of
you!
What a comfort! God was with them and God blessed
them. If God chooses to be with us, if God chooses to bless us, then
there are no changes too great for us, no trouble too heavy for us!
God integrated His presence and blessing into
work when He instituted work. In Genesis 1:28,
"God blessed them and
said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth
and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the
air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’"
Notice the phrase, "God blessed them…"
This is a very key phrase with regard to work because God
did not institute work to be independent from Him. The word "bless"
indicates God’s favour. It means, "to endue by God with
power for success, prosperity, productivity, longevity and etc."
It confers abundant and effective life upon something. When one is
said to be in a state of blessedness, it refers to the joy and
happiness promised to the individual who lives in the kingdom of
God. This joy and happiness covers the spiritual, physical, present,
future, personal and even social aspects of one’s life!" As
far as the Scriptures are concerned, God is the ultimate and only
source of blessings.
The difference between one who is blessed by God
and one who is not can be seen from Psalm 127:1-2.
"Unless the Lord
builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord
watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you
rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for He grants
sleep to those He loves."
God will not take away our struggles for they are
actually a means to train and discipline us. God will however give
us Himself and walk together with us victoriously.
Consider these two implications.
1. There is no true blessing apart from God.
God did not design and institute work to be
independent from Him. God designed and instituted work so that
we partner with Him in taking care of His creation. Deciding to
be independent from Him (consciously and unconsciously) cost us
His presence and blessing. Difficulties in working relationships
and at work are unavoidable but the key question is, "Is
God’s favour with you?" There is no blessing apart from
God.
2. There is no true blessing apart from
obedience.
"Here O Israel, and be careful to obey
so that it may go well with you and that you may increase
greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord,
the God of your fathers, promised you." Deuteronomy 6:3
"Blessed are they whose ways are
blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed
are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their
heart." Psalm 119:1-2
Blessed are not those who know a lot about
God’s word. Blessed are those who seek to please the Lord by
keeping His commandment.
Tan Sin Guan is director of Malaysia
Campus Crusade for Christ’s Impact! ministry. He is also an
associate pastor of Klang Chinese Methodist Church.
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