Promise:
My work is an offering to God who gives it meaning.
Passage:
In the Old Testament times, God instituted a variety of offering or sacrifice types that brought Him honor and joy. Some were large and significant, like a burnt offering during a high holy day done in the city of Jerusalem and others were not. A grain or other thanksgiving offering might have been smaller in scope or sacrifice, but all of them honored God and showed obedience.
Perhaps my work is the same. When I have been in work transition, I have faced a decision with which you might currently be wrestling: do I apply for and take a lesser job (perhaps with a smaller title, less pay, and fewer responsibilities) or hold out for a larger job (which would bring more compensation, esteem, etc)? Depending on what doors God opens and closes and my own patience, the former might be easier to achieve than the latter. But perhaps one might leave me feeling like the talents and experience is being under-utilized. It could leave me frustrated or wishing for more.
When I reflect, I wonder if my angst is divine restlessness or ego? Is it wanting to join God in a big work He is doing or wanting to orchestrate things for myself.
Jacob (grandson of Abraham and Sarah) was directed to return to a town called Bethel where God spared him from the pursuit of his brother Esau (in Genesis 35). It is here that God changed his name to Isreal, promised that his descendants would include nations and kings, and asked him to set up a stone pillar as a monument and poured out a “drink offering” on it. It is a type of offering that is mentioned in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers as a part of the Festival of Weeks.
Later in his letters to the church at Philippi and later in life to his protégé Timothy, Paul writes of his own ministry work being a drink offering.
Philippians 2:14-18
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
1 Timothy 4: 6-8
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Although he had faced fires, he didn’t call his work a burnt offering. Even thought he expresses gratitude in every letter, he didn’t call his work a thanksgiving offering. Even thought he talks about sharing what he has with others in need, he didn’t talk about grain offering. He described how he offered up himself is a pouring out. It wasn’t a waste. He had no idea at thee time of his writings to the churches and their leaders that thousands of years later we’d be reading his work and using those insights to get closer to Christ.
No sacrifice, if given joyfully and completely to God, goes to waste. So although I couldn’t possibly advise you about whether you should take a smaller or larger step in your career, a sideways or backwards step, or step out entirely into retirement or service work, what I can tell you is that work is important to God and anything offered in dedication honors Him.
Practice:
There is a traditional American folksong hymn entitled “Would you be poured out like wine?” that was published in the 1980s (attributed to composers Michael R. Greene or Tex Stevens, but not confirmed) that provides our reflection today. Read these words and answer the questions below:
Would you be poured out like wine
Upon the alter for me?
Would you be broken like bread
To feed the hungry?
Would you be so one with Me
That you would do just as I will;
Would you be light and life and love My Word fulfilled?
Pause:
Reflecting on the song and the scriptures above, what does it mean to you to be a drink offering? What might God be asking you to give up, pour out, or do in grateful response to His provision and love?
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