Part Three: The Nine Principles
Editor’s Note: This is part three of our “A Theology of Work” series. Read Part 1 and Part 2.
Yesterday, I wrote about Principle One: “Work allows us to develop our character.” The scripture reference was, “And not only this, but we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character…” Romans 5:3-4a.
Today, we will share the rest of the principles:
Principle Two: Work allows us to develop our generosity.
Paul exhorted the church at Ephesus, “…but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has a need.” Ephesians 4:28b. Work allows us to have the funds necessary to be generous and help those who are in need.
Oseola McCarty did one thing all her life: laundry. For decades she earned 50 cents per load (a week’s worth of one family’s laundry). When she finally laid down her old-fashioned washboard, McCarty asked her banker how much money she had stowed away. She was surprised to learn that she had saved $250,000.
In 1995, she decided to donate $150,000 of her life savings to the University of Southern Mississippi in order to give scholarships to deserving students in need of financial assistance.
In an interview with the Christian Reader, she explained, “I had more than what I could use in the bank, and I can’t carry anything away from here with me, so I thought it was best to give it to some child to get an education.”
McCarty attended Friendship Baptist Church, read her Bible every morning, and prayed on her knees every evening. Discounting the publicity, she said that she was simply grateful for the chance to help others gain what she lost: in the sixth grade, she was pulled out of school to care for an ailing family member and to help her mother with the laundry.
When asked by reporters why she didn’t use the money on herself, she would tell them that “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”
Work does indeed allow us to develop our generosity and have the resources to be generous.
Oseola McCarty went home to be with the Lord on September 26, 1999, in her 91st year. I can hear the Lord say to her, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
Principle Three: Work allows us to develop our testimony.
The Apostle Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to behave well in the presence of those outside the church family. Our testimony needs to firmly reflect Jesus in the workplace.
He wrote, “…and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.
There are five environments where we come into association with others. There is home life, church life, school life (for a season), social life, and work life. For many, worklife represents a substantial portion of time spent with others.
Colonel Rick D. Husband was one of the astronauts who perished on the Space Shuttle Columbia. He was a believer, and the people around him knew it. Here are some wonderful anecdotes:
- Suit technicians for the space program recalled that Rick offered to pray for the crew before they went out to begin their mission. One said that in all his years, he had never heard of a captain praying for and with his crew.
- The spouses of the crew members get to pick a song for their partner to wake up to one of the mornings they’re in space. Rick’s wife selected “God of Wonders” by Steve Green. A tape of Rick communicating with Mission Control after the song was played went something like this:
- Mission Control: “Good morning. That song was for Rick. It was “God of Wonders’ by Steve Green.”
- Rick: “Good morning. Thank you. We can really appreciate the lyrics of that song up here. We look out the window and see that God truly is a God of wonders!”
One of the things that blessed me the most about Rick was his commitment to his family. Astronauts lead very busy lives. Even so, he made 34 devotionals by video before he left on the Columbia. There were 17 for his daughter and 17 for his son, one for each day he was to be gone. Each day Rick was in space, his daughter and son had their own devotion with Dad by video.
No matter what your calling in life is—astronaut, computer technician, school teacher, DWP employee, full-time mom, sales representative, health caregiver—you have a testimony that is being developed.
Principle Four: Work allows us to develop our confidence.
Work is a place where we can develop healthy self-esteem based on the skill set, wisdom, and knowledge that God has given us. Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”
The writer of Proverbs is saying that the application of our skills can help us have the confidence to stand before kings, which otherwise can be awfully intimidating. It also implies that our skills are worthy of a king.
God wants us to do three things with the skills he has given us. He wants us to feel good about them, He wants us to use them for His glory, and He wants us to use them for our provision.
I remember the first time Keila was successful at sucking milk out of a straw. We were in San Diego, spending time with Tiffany as she attended a conference. After accomplishing this new skill, there was this joyful look of satisfaction on Keila’s face. Grandma thought that Keila was the smartest, most skillful child on the face of the earth.
One summer, I helped teach an Apples of Gold class for our church in which we had homes open up where different members taught cooking skills and also offered Bible Study and fellowship.
I taught my students how to make a Man’s Meal. The menu included baby back ribs, char siu corn chowder appetizers, BBQ tri-tip, Caesar salmon, grilled ribeye steaks, grilled vegetables, and steamed rice. We also made ice cream almondine for dessert.
When you skillfully cook a meal, it comes out edible, and everyone enjoys it, you really feel good about yourself, and it helps build your confidence.
Remember that work is a place where God can help us develop our self-esteem and confidence as we apply the skills that He has given to us. Always remember that skills are a gift from God.
Principle Five: Work allows us to develop our learning.
Jesus called His followers disciples (John 8:31). The word, disciple, means learner. A disciple is one who is a learner, especially of the things belonging to Christ.
Proverbs 19:8 says, “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good.” There is great benefit in being a learner of Jesus’ Word and Jesus’ Ways.
There are three ways a disciple learns.
- A disciple learns from criticism and correction. “Anyone who loves learning accepts correction. But a person who hates being corrected is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1 (NCV). Charles Spurgeon said, “Get a friend to tell you your faults, or better still, welcome an enemy who will watch you keenly and sting you savagely. What a blessing such an irritating critic will be to a wise man, what an intolerable nuisance to a fool!”
- A disciple learns from failures. Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity.” The righteous can keep going regardless of circumstances because they learn from each lesson provided by apparent failures. John Wooden used to say that “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.” The workplace is a virtual venue to experience the learning lessons provided by apparent failure.
- A disciple learns from God. “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6. The only true source of wisdom and knowledge comes from the Lord. While at work, ask yourself the question, when confronted by a challenge, a trial, or any decision, “What does God want me to learn?” All truth comes from Him. Learn from the Master.
Work is a great place of learning. It helps us become mature followers of Jesus.
This Is the Way.
Love,
Grandpa
Editor’s Note: The final installment of this series will include Principles Six through Nine.
This article is part of a series called “Letters from Grandpa.” Each entry is written by Cory Ishida, who was the senior pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church of San Gabriel Valley until his retirement. During the pandemic, he texted devotions to his grandchildren to encourage them while they were apart, and he has continued this tradition to this day. We at the SOLA Network are honored to republish Pastor Cory’s devotions in hopes that they will be a blessing to the church.