Ask, “What is God Up To? And How Does This Inform My Life and Work?”
Ask, “What is God Up To? And How Does This Inform My Life and Work?”
Ask, “What is God Up To? And How Does This Inform My Life and Work?”
Ask, “What is God Up To? And How Does This Inform My Life and Work?”
We all encounter situations, whether it is a major decision, opportunity, or challenge where we have to ask one or more of these questions: What is best for me? What is best for my family? What is best for the customer? What is best for the investors? What will the board think? While all these questions are good and should be answered, none of them are as important as, “What is God up to and how is He calling me to respond?”
We all encounter situations, whether it is a major decision, opportunity, or challenge where we have to ask one or more of these questions: What is best for me? What is best for my family? What is best for my colleagues? What is best for the customer? How will this affect our goals? What is best for the investors? What will the board think? How will this most impact our city?
While all these questions are good and should be answered, none of them are as important as, “What is God up to and how is He calling me to respond?” Or, said another way, “What is God’s will for my life and work and how does that inform the situation at hand?”
You see, the most important thing about anything is that everything is about God.
“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” - Romans 11:36
How to Ask God
We approach questions about God and His will with reverence because we know our thoughts are not the same as God’s thoughts, and God’s ways are much higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8). We prepare to be amazed and filled with wonder (Psalm 139:6). We expect to be enlightened with the deep depths of God’s wisdom (Romans 11:33-35).
Most importantly, we believe we will get an answer if we truly ask and seek (Matthew 7:7). And, while His answers may not be as explicit as, “take this job, expand to this territory, create this specific new product, and hire this person,” His answers will give us great guidance.
God wants to inform all our decisions. He has already made so much plain through creation (Romans 1:19), His word (Romans 15:4-6), and His Son, Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2).
God’s Grand Design — The Gospel
The way God has designed the world to work — the good with the bad — informs our daily life and work. This grand design of all life and history is called the Gospel, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about so much more than just saving us from our sin. The full Gospel informs why we were made (Creation), how we lost it all (Fall), all that Jesus did for us (Redemption), and how we can join Jesus in His Kingdom work of making all things new (Restoration).
Tim Keller explains the benefits of the full Gospel verse the personal salvation Gospel this way —
“Some conservative Christians think of the story of salvation as the fall, redemption, heaven. In this narrative, the purpose of redemption is escape from this world; only saved people have anything of value, while unbelieving people in the world are seen as blind and bad. If, however, the story of salvation is creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, then things look different. In this narrative, non-Christians are seen as created in the image of God and given much wisdom and greatness within them (Psalm 8), even though the image is defaced and fallen. Moreover, the purpose of redemption is not to escape the world but to renew it... It is about the coming of God’s kingdom to renew all things... If we lose the emphasis on conversion, we lose the power of the gospel for personal transformation. We will not work sacrificially and joyfully for justice. On the other hand, if we lose the emphasis on the corporate — on the kingdom — we lose the power of the gospel for cultural transformation.” – Tim Keller
Applying The Gospel To Work
Here is how we can apply God’s full — four chapter — Gospel to our daily leadership and work with verses that represent each major phase.
Creation
“God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” – Genesis 1:26-28
Creation Informed Implications
God made men and women with great dignity. We are made in the image of God; each person on earth has incredible value. Therefore:
- We honor God with the value He has given us
- We value all people and we treat all people with dignity
- Our work is the way we display our dignity and gratitude
- Our work is fueled with purpose — to glorify God (Romans 11:36)
- We are to increase in number — multiplying through God-honoring marriages
- All creation is ours to rule over as we put everything under God
- We increase our rule by creating solutions to serve the world and by teaching others to do the same
Fall
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1
“It is true. ‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.’” – Isaiah 43:9-10
“He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” – Psalm 147:8-11
Fall Informed Implications
The devil is real and is always out to trick us by asking us, sometimes in very subtle ways, “Did God really say?” This is where we all go astray. God made us to be His witnesses. Therefore:
- We seek to know what God really said as doubt arises — we can know the truth (John 8:32)
- Our work is not primarily about us or proving what we can do
- Our work is about being a witness for God
- Our work is about knowing and trusting God
- Our work is not primarily about money or providing for our families
- God always provides
- Good work increases our delight in God
Redemption
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke: 19:10
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” – John 1:12-13
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” – John 15:11-16
Redemption Informed Implications
Jesus came to save us and has transformed us from sin and darkness into light. Those who put their trust in Him are God’s children, God’s heirs, royalty and friends of the King. Therefore:
- Our sin and mistakes do not count against us with God — we are a new creation
- We can learn from our mistakes and redeem our actions
- Our work life is full of joy
- We love others the way we have been loved
- We forgive others as we have been forgiven
- Like Jesus, we put others before ourselves, even when it comes at great cost
- We stay connected to God and ask for guidance — praying continually
Restoration
“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” – John 14:12-14
“He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:7-8
“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.’” – Revelation 21:5-7
Restoration Informed Implications
Jesus has won the victory and now our greatest work is to join Him in making all things new through our daily work. Therefore:
- We do the work that Jesus did right where God has us
- We stay connected to Jesus and are His representative as we lead and work
- When we ask anything in His name — for His Kingdom building purposes — and He grants it
- We don’t worry about government, corporate structures, or even those who are out to get us
- Our work restores the culture around us — making our workplaces, neighborhoods, and city places of love and justice
- We aim to be witnesses with great power and continue our work with others to the end of the earth
- We celebrate now — the victory Jesus has won — in anticipation of celebrating with Jesus forever!
Of course, this is just a start of how to apply the Gospel of Jesus at work. God’s word guides us in everything we face.
Resources
Worksheet: God's Will For My Work
Article: Work is Very Good
Article: Work is Broken
Article: Work is Redemptive
Article: Tim Keller, Our New Global Culture: Ministry In Urban Centers
Book: Hugh Whelchel, How Then Should We Work?
Book: Randy Pope, The Answer
We all encounter situations, whether it is a major decision, opportunity, or challenge where we have to ask one or more of these questions: What is best for me? What is best for my family? What is best for my colleagues? What is best for the customer? How will this affect our goals? What is best for the investors? What will the board think? How will this most impact our city?
While all these questions are good and should be answered, none of them are as important as, “What is God up to and how is He calling me to respond?” Or, said another way, “What is God’s will for my life and work and how does that inform the situation at hand?”
You see, the most important thing about anything is that everything is about God.
“For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” - Romans 11:36
How to Ask God
We approach questions about God and His will with reverence because we know our thoughts are not the same as God’s thoughts, and God’s ways are much higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8). We prepare to be amazed and filled with wonder (Psalm 139:6). We expect to be enlightened with the deep depths of God’s wisdom (Romans 11:33-35).
Most importantly, we believe we will get an answer if we truly ask and seek (Matthew 7:7). And, while His answers may not be as explicit as, “take this job, expand to this territory, create this specific new product, and hire this person,” His answers will give us great guidance.
God wants to inform all our decisions. He has already made so much plain through creation (Romans 1:19), His word (Romans 15:4-6), and His Son, Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2).
God’s Grand Design — The Gospel
The way God has designed the world to work — the good with the bad — informs our daily life and work. This grand design of all life and history is called the Gospel, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about so much more than just saving us from our sin. The full Gospel informs why we were made (Creation), how we lost it all (Fall), all that Jesus did for us (Redemption), and how we can join Jesus in His Kingdom work of making all things new (Restoration).
Tim Keller explains the benefits of the full Gospel verse the personal salvation Gospel this way —
“Some conservative Christians think of the story of salvation as the fall, redemption, heaven. In this narrative, the purpose of redemption is escape from this world; only saved people have anything of value, while unbelieving people in the world are seen as blind and bad. If, however, the story of salvation is creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, then things look different. In this narrative, non-Christians are seen as created in the image of God and given much wisdom and greatness within them (Psalm 8), even though the image is defaced and fallen. Moreover, the purpose of redemption is not to escape the world but to renew it... It is about the coming of God’s kingdom to renew all things... If we lose the emphasis on conversion, we lose the power of the gospel for personal transformation. We will not work sacrificially and joyfully for justice. On the other hand, if we lose the emphasis on the corporate — on the kingdom — we lose the power of the gospel for cultural transformation.” – Tim Keller
Applying The Gospel To Work
Here is how we can apply God’s full — four chapter — Gospel to our daily leadership and work with verses that represent each major phase.
Creation
“God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” – Genesis 1:26-28
Creation Informed Implications
God made men and women with great dignity. We are made in the image of God; each person on earth has incredible value. Therefore:
- We honor God with the value He has given us
- We value all people and we treat all people with dignity
- Our work is the way we display our dignity and gratitude
- Our work is fueled with purpose — to glorify God (Romans 11:36)
- We are to increase in number — multiplying through God-honoring marriages
- All creation is ours to rule over as we put everything under God
- We increase our rule by creating solutions to serve the world and by teaching others to do the same
Fall
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1
“It is true. ‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord, ‘and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.’” – Isaiah 43:9-10
“He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” – Psalm 147:8-11
Fall Informed Implications
The devil is real and is always out to trick us by asking us, sometimes in very subtle ways, “Did God really say?” This is where we all go astray. God made us to be His witnesses. Therefore:
- We seek to know what God really said as doubt arises — we can know the truth (John 8:32)
- Our work is not primarily about us or proving what we can do
- Our work is about being a witness for God
- Our work is about knowing and trusting God
- Our work is not primarily about money or providing for our families
- God always provides
- Good work increases our delight in God
Redemption
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke: 19:10
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.” – John 1:12-13
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” – John 15:11-16
Redemption Informed Implications
Jesus came to save us and has transformed us from sin and darkness into light. Those who put their trust in Him are God’s children, God’s heirs, royalty and friends of the King. Therefore:
- Our sin and mistakes do not count against us with God — we are a new creation
- We can learn from our mistakes and redeem our actions
- Our work life is full of joy
- We love others the way we have been loved
- We forgive others as we have been forgiven
- Like Jesus, we put others before ourselves, even when it comes at great cost
- We stay connected to God and ask for guidance — praying continually
Restoration
“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” – John 14:12-14
“He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:7-8
“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.’” – Revelation 21:5-7
Restoration Informed Implications
Jesus has won the victory and now our greatest work is to join Him in making all things new through our daily work. Therefore:
- We do the work that Jesus did right where God has us
- We stay connected to Jesus and are His representative as we lead and work
- When we ask anything in His name — for His Kingdom building purposes — and He grants it
- We don’t worry about government, corporate structures, or even those who are out to get us
- Our work restores the culture around us — making our workplaces, neighborhoods, and city places of love and justice
- We aim to be witnesses with great power and continue our work with others to the end of the earth
- We celebrate now — the victory Jesus has won — in anticipation of celebrating with Jesus forever!
Of course, this is just a start of how to apply the Gospel of Jesus at work. God’s word guides us in everything we face.
Resources
Worksheet: God's Will For My Work
Article: Work is Very Good
Article: Work is Broken
Article: Work is Redemptive
Article: Tim Keller, Our New Global Culture: Ministry In Urban Centers
Book: Hugh Whelchel, How Then Should We Work?
Book: Randy Pope, The Answer