“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work" (Thomas Alva Edison).

Work is a basic rule of life. But that doesn’t make it bad. In fact, work is a gift, and not just because of the money it brings. Work is an opportunity to use the gifts God gave you for a purpose!

God intended for us to work from the beginning and it wasn’t supposed to be punishment! “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis2:15). When you experience those moments of joy and satisfaction of your work, it is a reminder that God intended for it to be that way. But after Adam sinned, he was told that his work was cursed.(Genesis 3:17-19).

But just like he redeems everything else from the curse of sin, God can also redeem our work.

Our work can be redeemed from the sin of selfishness. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Doing our jobs in Jesus’ name means that we represent him not only in what we do, but in how we conduct ourselves.

We work not simply to support our families or to buy nice things, but also so that we might be able to do the Lord’s work by giving away some of what we earn. “He…must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need” (Ephesians 4:28). Look around for those in need. God may have you given you that job so that you might be generous to others.

Our work can also be redeemed from the sin of laziness. “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (II Thessalonians 3:10). “He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment” (Proverbs 12:11). “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23). “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare” (Proverbs 20:13).

Somebody said, “There are two kinds of people: those who work and those who take the credit. It's better to belong to the first group because there is less competition.” :-)

Work can be redeemed from the sin of envy. “The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). Everyone wants what the rich man has. Being rich is a blessing and a curse in and of itself. Work itself is a reward that can't be taken from you or taxed by the Gov't.

Work can be redeemed from the sin of ingratitude. We are to do the best job we can even if we work for a jerk because our ultimate boss is God, not man. “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Ephesians 6:7).

Work can be a testimony about who God is. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” (I Thessalonians 4:11-12). Work is not just honorable, it is a way that God has given you to show that your whole life has been redeemed.