Culture Wars
Work & Worship
This is a thought provoking lesson in the fact that many people (Christians included) don't see the connection of these two words - work & worship. Work is secular, worship is spiritual. If you are retired, please share how you looked at this understanding before, and if you are still working, please share how you might still be wrestling with this connection.
From the opening pages of Scripture, work is
presented as a good gift from God. Before sin entered the world, God created
humanity in His image and entrusted them with meaningful responsibility.
Genesis 1–2 shows us that work is not accidental nor merely a means of
survival; it is part of God’s original design.
God calls His people to steward what He has
made, to cultivate creation, and to reflect His character through faithful
labor. When our work is connected to God’s mission and aimed at God’s pleasure; it becomes an act of worship. Our vocation (wherever God has placed us) is one
of the primary ways we live out our identity as image-bearers and participants
in God’s ongoing work in the world.
Genesis 1:26-31 & Genesis 2:15
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man
in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He
created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and
multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of
the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that
moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant
yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in
its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and
to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth,
everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for
food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold,
it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in
the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
The
Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Genesis
1:26-31; Genesis 2:15
Discussion Questions
- How does Genesis 1–2 challenge the idea that work is a curse or a necessary evil?
- Why is it important to remember that we are stewards, not owners, of our work and resources?
- In what ways has your view of work been shaped more by culture than by Scripture?
- How does seeing your work as worship change your motivation or attitude?
- What might it look like to view your job, or daily responsibilities as a mission field?
Closing Thoughts
Work Where God Has Placed You.
God has intentionally placed you where you
are — not by accident, but for His purposes. Faithfulness in your work is one
of the primary ways you reflect Christ.
Be Salt and Light Through Stewardship.
Living on mission often looks ordinary:
working with integrity, serving others, and honoring God in daily
responsibilities. When done for His glory, ordinary work becomes extraordinary
worship.
END
Teacher Notes:
Do you work for God's pleasure?
Consider these 2 questions and common answers:
Now consider this:
Short answer? No — most people don’t. And
that’s true both in the culture at large and inside the church.
We’ve absorbed a sacred–secular divide. Many
believers (often unconsciously) believe work is secular and worship is
spiritual. So, worship gets confined to Sundays, while 40–60 hours a week feel
spiritually disconnected. That idea isn’t biblical, but it’s deeply cultural.
Culture tells us work is about self. The
dominant messages are:
• Find
your passion
• Build
your brand
• Maximize
income
• Climb
the ladder
That frames work as self-expression or
self-advancement — not service to God or others. Even Christians swim in that
water.
We equate worship with emotion. Worship is
often defined by how it feels. Work rarely feels transcendent or joyful — especially
ordinary or unseen work — so it doesn’t get categorized as worship. Scripture,
however, defines worship as obedient offering, not emotional experience (Rom.
12:1).
What Scripture says instead: The Bible
consistently presents work as worship when it is: done in faith, offered to God,
and shaped by obedience and love. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the
Lord and not for men.” (Col. 3:23)
Genesis 1–2 shows that God delighted in work
before sin ever entered the world—and humans were invited into that same joy
and responsibility.
Genesis 1:26-31 and Genesis 2:15
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man
in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He
created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and
multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of
the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that
moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant
yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in
its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and
to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth,
everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for
food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold,
it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in
the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
How does Genesis 1–2 challenge the idea that
work is a curse or a necessary evil?
Work existed before the Fall
In Genesis 1–2, God gives Adam and Eve meaningful tasks before sin enters the world:
- “Fill the earth and subdue it… have dominion” (Gen. 1:28)
- Adam is placed in the garden “to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15)
That’s huge. Work isn’t a punishment for sin — it’s part of God’s good design for human life. The curse in Genesis 3 affects work (pain, frustration, toil), but it doesn’t create work.
God Himself works and calls it good
Genesis 1 repeatedly shows God working: creating, ordering, shaping, naming. Then He steps back and declares His work “very good” (Gen. 1:31).
Humans, made in God’s image, are invited to reflect Him by working too. Work is not beneath us — it’s one way we mirror our Creator.
Work is tied to purpose and dignity, not survival
Before there was scarcity, competition, or exhaustion, Adam was already working. That means work wasn’t about “earning a living” or avoiding hunger — it was about:
- Stewardship
- Creativity
- Responsibility
- Participation in God’s ongoing care of creation
Work gives meaning, not just money.
Genesis 1–2 teaches that work is a gift
before it is a burden. Sin distorts work, but it doesn’t define it. Work is
part of what it means to be human, created in God’s image and entrusted with
His world.
Why is it important to remember that we are
stewards, not owners, of our work and resources?
That distinction — stewards, not owners — is
foundational, and it reshapes almost everything about how we live and work.
It keeps us humble and dependent on God
If we see ourselves as owners, success easily turns into pride and failure into despair. Stewardship reminds us:
What we have is received, not achieved (Ps. 24:1; 1 Cor. 4:7).
Our abilities, opportunities, and resources ultimately belong to God.
That humility guards the heart and keeps us reliant on Him rather than ourselves.
It reframes work as service, not self-promotion
- Owners ask, “How can this benefit me?”
- Stewards ask, “How does God want this used?”
When we remember we’re stewards, work becomes an act of worship (Col. 3:23), not merely a ladder for status, comfort, or control. Faithfulness matters more than visibility.
It loosens our grip on possessions
Ownership leads to fear — fear of loss, comparison, and scarcity. Stewardship leads to generosity and trust.
We hold resources with open hands.
We’re freer to give, share, and invest in what lasts.
This is why Scripture links stewardship with joy, not anxiety.
It gives meaning even to unseen or uncelebrated work
If we are owners, unrecognized work feels pointless.
If we are stewards, faithfulness matters even when no one is watching (Luke 16:10).
God measures success differently than the world does.
It points us forward to eternity
Stewardship has an end goal: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
We are managing what belongs to Another — for a time. That eternal perspective keeps work from becoming either an idol or a burden.
Remembering we are stewards, not owners,
keeps work from ruling us or ruining us. It anchors our identity in
faithfulness, frees us from control and fear, and aligns our labor and
resources with God’s purposes — not just our own.
In what ways has your view of work been
shaped more by culture than by Scripture?
How does seeing your work as worship change
your motivation or attitude?
Seeing work as worship quietly but radically
reframes why and how we work.
It shifts the audience
When work is worship, the primary audience isn’t a boss, a customer, or even yourself — it’s God (Col. 3:23).
That means:
- Integrity matters even when no one is watching.
- Faithfulness matters more than applause.
You’re no longer performing for approval; you’re offering your work to the Lord.
It reshapes motivation
Instead of working mainly for pay, recognition, or advancement, motivation becomes more about obedience and gratitude.
Work turns from “What do I get out of this?” into “How can I honor God through this?”
That kind of motivation is steadier — it doesn’t rise and fall with circumstances.
It redeems ordinary or unseen tasks
If worship only happens in church, then much of life feels spiritually empty.
But if work is worship, even routine, repetitive, or unnoticed tasks gain eternal significance (Luke 16:10).
No work done faithfully for God is wasted.
It changes your attitude toward excellence
Worship doesn’t mean perfectionism — but it does mean care.
Seeing work as worship encourages:
- diligence without obsession
- excellence without pride
- effort without idolatry
You work well not to prove your worth, but because God is worthy.
It softens frustration and hardship
Work is still hard in a fallen world. Worship doesn’t remove thorns — but it gives context.
Frustration becomes something you bring to God rather than something that defines you (Rom. 12:1).
It guards against burnout and resentment
When work becomes identity, burnout is inevitable.
When work becomes worship, rest becomes an act of trust, not guilt (Gen. 2:2–3).
You can stop working because your value isn’t on the line.
Seeing your work as worship transforms
motivation from self-centered to God-centered and turns attitude from
resentment to purpose — even when the work is hard or unseen.
What might it look like to view your job, or
daily responsibilities as a mission field?
Viewing your job, or daily responsibilities
as a mission field doesn’t mean turning everything into a sermon — it means
seeing people and moments through God’s purposes rather than just your
schedule.
Here’s what that can look like in real life:
Seeing people, not just roles
A mission field mindset asks:
- Who has God placed around me?
- What burdens, questions, or hurt might they be carrying?
Coworkers stop being obstacles. Customers stop being interruptions. They become image-bearers God deeply loves.
Excellence as testimony
Doing your work well is part of your witness — not to earn favor, but to reflect God’s character.
- Showing up prepared
- Working honestly
- Owning mistakes
- Treating authority with respect
This quietly communicates that your faith shapes how you live, not just what you say (Col. 3:23).
Prayerful awareness
Mission-minded people learn to pray:
- before the day begins
- during tense conversations
- after unexpected opportunities
Prayer tunes your heart to God’s work already happening around you.
A long-term perspective
Most mission fields aren’t one-time encounters — they’re relationships built over time.
Trust grows slowly. Influence deepens quietly. Seeds are planted long before fruit appears.
A mission field isn’t defined by geography — it’s defined by calling.
God hasn’t just sent you somewhere to work or learn; He’s placed you there to represent Him.
Closing thought:
When does work become worship?
- Work becomes worship when it is done for God’s pleasure, not personal glory.
Conclusion
Work Where God Has Placed You.
God has intentionally placed you where you
are — not by accident, but for His purposes. Faithfulness in your work is one
of the primary ways you reflect Christ.
Be Salt and Light Through Stewardship.
Living on mission often looks ordinary:
working with integrity, serving others, and honoring God in daily
responsibilities. When done for His glory, ordinary work becomes extraordinary
worship.
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