Work

Work

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10

Work. To some the word sounds depressing. To others it sounds energizing. I believe that our perspective on life and eternity helps determine our attitude toward work.

While on an airplane flight, I picked up the March 1998 copy of Hemisphere magazine and read an article about Millard Fuller, the founder of Habitat for Humanity. At age twenty-nine, Fuller became a millionaire while working as a lawyer and was living with a pretty fancy roof over his head. But after a marital crisis, he and his wife decided to downscale and seek a path of service. They searched for a way to make their lives count for God’s work in the world.

Discovering that one great need in our nation was housing for low-income families, they began a program of building houses for the poor. Fuller stated that the majority of volunteers who work with Habitat do so because of religious motivation. He calls it the “theology of the hammer.” Putting their faith into action, people use hammers as tools that demonstrate love.

As a mother, I don’t have to search very far before I find ways that my life can count for God’s work in the world. I prepare meals and pray that God’s Word will nourish my children’s souls. I do laundry and pray for the purity of my children. I encourage Christian character in them, praying that God will use them to build Christian families. The important thing is that all our work is done with a goal of furthering God’s Kingdom.

God,

Thank you for examples of people who want their lives to count for you. May our lives count for you as we serve you inside and outside our homes. Amen.