Rich Nathan is a hard working teacher. He is the Senior Pastor at Vineyard Columbus and listening to him on Sunday is always educational, inspirational, and challenging. This past Sunday, he challenged all who would hear, to practice integrating. Integrating Sunday and Monday. In our language, work and life.
He gave me some new language to use toward that very end.
As most of you know, that give your attention to this blog, we believe that the world is full of laborers. Some are quite highly paid, some are NOT. Some are professionals and some are not. Some are in esteemed fields such as law, sports, entertainment, medicine, and the military. Some are in insurance, tax, and even in the government. The work world is full of laborers that dread days like today…
Monday.
Some, like our former partner, Larry find their calling early and often in life and invest their time here pursuing it with their whole hearts. We refer to this type of work as OPUS. OPUS is work that one loves, work that represents your masterpiece. This is work that never stops and doesn’t long for retirement. This is work that gives energy and meaning to life. This is work that is most easily integrated. Very cool.
Yesterday, Rich taught me another couple words for work that I thought worthy of passing along. The Hebrew word for work is avod. Like the Latin language, they have another word for work as well, it’s avodah. Avodah means both work and worship.
What would Monday look like to you, if you saw your labor as avodah to God?
Can you imagine what the world of work would look like if CEO’s saw their roles as both work and worship?
Can you imagine F.U. money meaning anything but FOR you, if your work was also your worship?
Remember, forget trying to balance. You were NOT made to be balanced, you were made to be integrated. You were designed by God and have been gifted beyond your wildest imagination. You have what it takes and you have who it takes. Try integrating your strong CORE around your designer and as you tune in, you will soon find your work, your avod, turning up. AND, it won’t be long before avodah blends across your work and life. Yea, baby.
Tell me more…
BUILT TO LEAD 
Chet,
Thanks for the reminder. A few weeks ago, I found myself getting very discouraged about my work. I was allowing my work to drain me, rather than energize me. Which leads to discouragement, lack of motivation, disappointment, frustration, inability to focus…..well, you get the point.
So, I decided to make my work part of my worship. I setup Colossians 3:23-24 as my screen saver, and set it up to come on after 5 minutes of inactivity. On all my client engagements by phone, conference calls, and conversations with colleagues, inevitably 5 minutes pass, and I am reminded of who I REALLY work for.
Naturally, as my focus is determined, I am reminded of how HE expects that I present myself: lovingly, joyfully, peacefully, patiently, kindly, with goodness and faithfulness, gently, and with self-control. As those characteristics permeate my being, I believe that I can’t help but positively influence those with whom I am contacting.
My work becomes my OPUS.