Work Rewards
“For He repays man according to his work, And makes man to find a reward according to his way.” (Job 34:11 NKJV)
There is a belief held by many in the body of Christ that says “If I’m not doing something that has an inherent spiritual value, then it has no value at all.” This sacred/secular dichotomy impacts believers everyday as they go into their secular workplace. They believe what their secular work is simply a means of supporting the real ministry carried out by local churches, ministers, missionaries, and vocational ministries.
However, this has no biblical basis. Some of the most important leaders in the early church had secular jobs. And, they did not see them as jobs only to support other ministry. They considered their own jobs as ministry.
Consider Dorcus (also known as Tabitha), who was a clothing manufacturer who was “abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did.”(Acts 9:36)
When Dorcus died it was immediately brought to the attention of Peter which tells us she was very important to the early church leaders. “Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcus had made while she was still with them” (Acts 9:39). Dorcus was known equally for her business as well as her ministry among the people. However, she was about to be known for being raised from the dead!
“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, ‘tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord” (Acts 9:40-42).
What type of ministry in the workplace do you suppose Dorcus had after this event? Dorcus is a great reminder for every worker in the secular marketplace that “He repays man according to his work, and makes man to find a reward according to his way.”
