There was a pop song that said, “everybody’s workin’ for the weekend”. The idea behind it is that we all hate work, and what we most want is to get it out of the way so that we can get on with something enjoyable – i.e., the weekend and whatever we get up to then, presumably fun and rest.
Google tells me that the average Australian works about 90,000 hours in their lifetime. That’s a long time to spend doing labour we don’t want to do, and wishing we were doing something else! But imagine if our work was as purposeful and enjoyable as the fun and rest. How would that change our lives?
God was the first worker; and a manual worker at that! He planted a garden; He got dirt under His fingernails! (Genesis 2:7-9) And He made us in His image. Therefore, He created and called us to be workers too (Genesis 2:15; 1:28-30). This dignifies every form of good human work, from what might be considered the “lowliest” (e.g., a “garbologist”), to the most “exalted” (e.g., the King of England).
God’s work and our work all contributes to bringing about His purpose: to fill planet earth and to gather people out of all nations into His great family in a new, glorified heaven and earth, forever (Genesis 12:1-3; Revelation 22: 22-27). This doesn’t mean our work is never hard or frustrating. But it does fill it with dignity and purpose that brings us real satisfaction and fulfilment.
Grace and cheers, Jonathan.