God created the heavens and earth and created mankind in His own image, giving them the dominion mandate to steward all of the earth on His behalf as His vice-regents (Genesis 1:28). For mankind to fulfill this task of stewardship over creation and this dominion mandate task, God gave them the blessing of work. Work is a gift that God gave to mankind, before the fall, to be fruitful in the stewardship of creation (Genesis 2:15). Today, this dominion mandate in creation is fulfilled in the Great Commission in the task left by Jesus to His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). The work of the Great Commission is not just saving souls for heaven but bringing the redemption of the gospel to all mankind and all of creation for the glory of God.
Just like in the Old Testament, where we see people like Noah working hard on the ark to bring salvation for God’s chosen ones, in the New Testament, we see Jesus doing the work of His Father in bringing salvation to God’s chosen ones (John 17:4). His disciples continue on this work throughout the New Testament. We see Paul, one of the key players in taking the Gospel to the Gentiles and writing the New Testament, working hard at the great commission in taking the gospel to the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 15:10). The New Testament also shows us people doing different kinds of work, but all building up to making disciples for the glory of God, such as business people (Acts 18:1-3), wives, mothers and grandmothers (2 Tim 1:5), government workers (Romans 16:23), doctors, widows (Acts 9:36), jailers (Acts 16:33-34), etc.
Therefore, every believer in every vocation is called to use the blessing of work in making disciples and building God’s kingdom. This is an equal call for both the pastor, elder or missionary, and the marketplace worker, such as a teacher, doctor, stay-at-home mother, driver, barista, student, etc. Every believer in their God-placed role is called to use the God-given gift of work to build the kingdom of God. Therefore, the mindset that looks at work as a necessary evil to survive, and the illusion of an early retirement where one has made enough money or accrued significant benefits and thus no longer needs to work, but can spend life on entertainment, couldn’t be further from the truth! It is in God-ordained work, full-time or part-time, paid or voluntary, home or outside the home, ministry or marketplace work, that Christ-followers live with purpose at the task of making disciples and building God’s kingdom.
As disciples of Christ, we cannot adopt the fallen worldview that work exists just for us to make a living to get access to the good things of life, but rather a Christ-centered view where work is a means not only to meet our needs but to fulfill the greater role of shining the light of Christ, making disciples, and building His kingdom. The gospel also transforms our worldview towards the income we get from our work. It is not just to meet our needs and provide for personal enjoyment, but to share with those in need. In Ephesians 4:28, in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul addresses the former thief, expanding our view of work as a means of providing for our needs, but also an opportunity to share with the needy, and in so doing, lift up the poor and bridge the gap of inequality.
This Biblical view of work is also a core philosophy in our New Hope Uganda programs, as we desire to teach the children the value of work. It’s our hope that they will grow to be hard-working men and women, contributing to the needs in society, not dependents waiting for handouts or stealing. This is why we have our NHU children work in gardens, wash their own clothes, help with home chores, etc., to instill in them a Christ-honoring work ethic that will one day help them provide for themselves and their own families, and also be part of caring for the needs of others. It is also such a view that has kept New Hope Uganda afloat. In my time in America, one of the things that has amazed me is that many of our faithful sponsors and partners are not wealthy businessmen, making millions, but ordinary, faithful believers, living frugally with contentment in Christ, and sharing their income with the orphan and vulnerable in Uganda through NHU. What a very beautiful aroma of Christ, and a Christ-centered view of work! Their income is therefore not just to meet the needs of their families and build future security, but is shared with the orphan and vulnerable in giving them a hand up through the holistic care of evangelism, discipleship, education, and health care provided by New Hope Uganda.
