7. Working with Jesus is not the same as working for Jesus.
(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.)
DO YOU SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE “IT IS ALL UP TO YOU” TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASKS SET BEFORE YOU?
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE JOINING GOD IN WHAT HE IS ALREADY DOING OR THAT YOU NEED GOD TO JOIN YOU IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING?
IF YOUR VOCATION IS “SECULAR,” HOW DO YOU (OR COULD YOU) EXPERIENCE GOD JOINING YOU IN YOUR WORK?
What a difference a preposition makes. In all our work, Jesus enjoys being invited into what we are doing, and he also enjoys inviting us into what he is doing. How we imagine Jesus’ presence or participation in our work is important.
When I work for Jesus, I work alone.
When I work with Jesus, I work in companionship with him.
When I work for Jesus, my focus is on what I am doing, my task.
When I work with Jesus my attention is on Jesus, and the work we are doing.
When I work for Jesus I need his power, wisdom, encouragement, etc.
When I work with Jesus, I need his presence.
When I work for Jesus, I take responsibility for the outcome of my work.
When I work with Jesus, he takes responsibility for the outcome.
When I work for Jesus I work with material, physical, things.
When I work with Jesus his efforts create spiritual results.
When I work for Jesus, he lets me. He doesn’t demand that I include him.
When I work with Jesus, he thanks me for inviting him.
It is not wrong to work for Jesus. It certainly pleases him when we care about serving him. Some situations may even call for us to work for Jesus. But often we work alone when we don’t need to. We take responsibility when it is not ours to take. We worry and stress when shouldn’t. It is so easy to fall into working for Jesus. It may be hard to know how to work with Jesus. We may imagine that it pleases him when we work for him, and we love feeling his approval. Working alone can flow out of our sense of independence, of self-importance, and it serves our ego. Working for Jesus is not wrong but working with Jesus brings greater joy and freedom.