We recently celebrated the memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, which provides us a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the dignity of work.  In John 5:17, Jesus said, “my Father still goes on working, and I am at work, too.”  We also will be working throughout our lives.  Therefore, let’s explore some of the Scriptures about God’s will for this work.  May we be excited about the unique mission He has entrusted to each of us! 

For whom will we work?

We are called to work for God and for His glory, not for human glory (Ephesians 6:7).  Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus explains that He is carrying out the work of God the Father.  For example, in John 9:4, Jesus told the disciples that “as long as day lasts, we must carry out the work of the One who sent me; the night will soon be here when no one can work.”  Similarly, in John 17:4, Jesus prayed, “I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.”

God has also sent us into the world to carry out a special mission by which we glorify Him (Matthew 28:19-20).  The Lord has a beautiful plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11), and so we should be faithful to this work because no one else can fulfill it.  As St. John Henry Newman said, “God has created me to do Him some definite service.  He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.  I have my mission.”  The beauty of each precious soul with a unique mission coming together to serve the Lord makes us “God’s work of art,” created in Christ Jesus to do the good works that God has planned for us (Ephesians 2:10).  

The work that we do for the Lord is sacred, with a great dignity, because we are sharing in His work (1 Corinthians 3:9) and He is working with us (Romans 8:28).  Whatever our work is, then, let us put our hearts into it as done for the Lord and not for human beings, knowing that it is Christ the Lord we are serving (Colossians 3:23-24). 

For what will we work?

We are called to follow Jesus’s example and work for good.  We read in Acts 10:38 that “Jesus went about doing good.”  In the same way, the Scriptures encourage us to occupy ourselves “in doing good works . . . and not to be unproductive” (Titus 3:14), to keep our “minds constantly occupied in doing good works” (Titus 3:8), and to “keep doing good works . . . for these are the kinds of sacrifice that please God” (Hebrews 13:16).  Ultimately, the good that the Lord works through us should lead people to praise our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).  

We should also identify, encourage, and thank God for all the good that He is working through our brothers and sisters.  As goodness and grace increase, Jesus is increasing, and this is a cause for great thanksgiving.  “You see, everything is for your benefit, so that as grace spreads, so, to the glory of God, thanksgiving may also overflow among more and more people” (2 Corinthians 4:15).  

How will we work?

In cooperation with God 

We are called to cooperate with God as we serve Him.  The Holy Spirit will prompt us (Luke 2:27) to undertake certain work, and we are encouraged to be attentive and obedient to these promptings (2 Corinthians 8:5).  Moreover, the Scriptures promise that God will give us the intention and the power to act on these inspirations (Philippians 2:13). 

“Besides all this beg the Most High to guide your steps” in the work you are doing (Sirach 37:15).  We are so blessed to have the opportunity to constantly invite the Lord into this work through prayer, as we seek His guidance to do His will.  We see in Luke 5:3-6 that Simon Peter worked hard all night fishing but caught nothing.  However, when Jesus entered into Simon Peter’s boat and directed him, his work became very fruitful, netting such a huge number of fish that the nets began to tear.  Likewise, if we love God and are called according to His purpose, God will work with us too and turn everything to our good (Romans 8:28). 

Full of faith, love, and thanksgiving

In each type of work and mission the Lord has entrusted to us, we are called to be trustworthy and faithful servants (Luke 16:10, 17:10), full of love and thanksgiving.  When asked “what must we do if we are to carry out God’s work,” Jesus replied, “this is carrying out God’s work: you must believe in the One He has sent” (John 6:28-29).  Part of this faith is believing God’s promises about the work that He has given to us.  For instance, the Word of God instructs us to abound in energy for the Lord’s work and trust completely that in the Lord, none of our labors is wasted (1 Corinthians 15:58). Rather, God will multiply for the good of His Kingdom whatever we offer to Him (John 6:9-13).  Furthermore, everything we do should be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:14) and with thanksgiving (Colossians 3:17).    

Wholeheartedly, conscientiously, and with an eager spirit 

Additionally, “in the service of the Lord, work not halfheartedly but with conscientiousness and an eager spirit” (Romans 12:11).  Sometimes worries or fears about our weaknesses can prevent us from working wholeheartedly.  But in His great love, God has promised that His grace is sufficient for us and that His power is at full stretch in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  And we have every reason to be confident that the Lord will complete the work He has begun.  As St. Paul beautifully said in Philippians 1:6, “the One who began a good work in you will go on completing it until the Day of Jesus Christ comes.”  Therefore, may we remain enthusiastic about the work that God is doing through us, for “as long as the enthusiasm is there, the basis on which it is acceptable is what someone has, not what someone does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).  

In Romans 16:6-12, St. Paul highlights the conscientiousness of the early Christians when he sends greetings to Mary “who worked so hard for you,” Tryphaena and Tryphosa “who work hard in the Lord,” and Persis who was also “a very hard worker in the Lord.”  St. Paul too worked with “unsparing energy” (2 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:9).  How was he able to do this?  It was because of God’s grace.  As he explained in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “what I am now, I am through the grace of God, and the grace which was given to me has not been wasted.  Indeed, I have worked harder than all the others—not I, but the grace of God which is with me.”  

This experience was not only for St. Paul but is for each of us too.  “God is perfectly able to enrich you with every grace, so that you always have enough for every conceivable need, and your resources overflow in all kinds of good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).  Thus, if we “take strength from the grace which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1), we too will be able to strive with His energy working in us mightily (Colossians 1:29). 

How can we overcome obstacles to the work the Lord has entrusted to us?

We are bound to face obstacles as we share in God’s work. How can we persevere when this happens?

• Attach ourselves to the Lord through prayer, the Sacraments, and the Word of God, so as to fan into flame (2 Timothy 1:6) the Spirit, goodness, and love the Lord has placed within us.  Anyone who attaches himself to the Lord is one Spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17).

• Remain open to how the Lord wants to work through us and ask God to purify our intentions so that we more fully seek only His glory through our work.  

• Do not dwell in discouragement but pray to the Lord for courage.  As Jesus said in John 16:33, “in the world you will have hardship, but be courageous: I have conquered the world.”

• Reject the lies of the devil, who may cause us to question the meaning of our work.  We should never underestimate or forget the work that God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives.  Instead, may we build each other up with reminders of God’s faithful love and encourage one another that He always has a plan for us even when we cannot see it.  

• Remember how precious every soul is (Matthew 16:26) and ask the Lord to increase within us a zeal for souls.  This includes our own soul, as we are called to work out our salvation in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

• In times of desolation, do not discard the inspirations received during times of consolation.  Rather, persevere in hardship and keep praying regularly (Romans 12:12).  

• Dwell in the Word of God.  As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us, the Scripture is how we will become fully equipped and ready for any good work.

• Finally, rest in the Lord.  He wants us to come to Him, to trust in Him, and to surrender to Him in gentleness and humility so that we may find rest for our souls.  As Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.  Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.”

May the Lord bless each of you and the work you are doing!

Special thanks to Aby Mathew whose inspiration and sharing of Scriptures led to this blog post.