WORK AS WORSHIP

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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The older I get, the more I find value in the biblical message of Ecclesiastes. The reason that this message grows on me as I gain experience in life comes from the perspective of the author. The writer looks at the sum of his life and works and compares them with the gift of eternity. This perspective fuels an approach toward life that points the reader toward the beauty of contentment. Read on if you are curious about this seldom read biblical message.  

17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. 

19 And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. 

20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. 21 For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 

22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

24 A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

(Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 NIV11)

I will leave you to read this passage for yourself and see if it speaks to your current condition. 

Verses 24-26

But I would like to briefly comment on the conclusion found in verses 24-26.

In my life, I have learned that any job that we do can be made significant if we give our work to the Lord. If we approach the works of our hands from a perspective of wanting to bring God glory by giving each moment of the day to the Lord in an act of worship, then any and all of our work can be made eternal. 

I have worked over 26 different jobs in my life. Most of these jobs are temporary in their focus. I waited tables, cleaned buildings, dug ditches, and all kinds of other temporary kinds of toil. Along the way, I decided to give my shift, my table, my shovel to the Lord and I asked him to help me do a great job for his glory. By choosing to give my work to God as worship, I found that even the most meaningless task was infused with value because it was a willful act of worship. 

Wisdom, Knowledge, and Happiness

In verse 26, we are told that the Lord provides the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to those who seek to serve him with their work. 

These gifts do not make us rich from a worldly perspective, but they do bring us a sense of purpose and mission. When the Lord helps me find joy in my work, I feel that my accomplishments cannot be stolen or lost, which is a great benefit to me. 

I hope that you will reflect on this message and look for ways to infuse your work today with worship and godly purpose. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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