Scripture References: Ecclesiastes 3:9-13; Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:15; Genesis 3:17-19; Colossians 3:17, 23; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 1:5; Matthew 6:33; Galatians 6:9-10

Intro: What motivates you in your daily work – your job, parenting, chores? Often, work feels like toil, separate from spiritual life. But God's Word reveals a profound significance to our work. Exploring this can shift our motivation from mere obligation or worldly success to seeing work as worship and partnership with God.

Key Points:

1. Joy in Toil (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13): Though Solomon saw the vanity of finding ultimate worth in work's results, he declared finding enjoyment in our daily labor ("toil") is God's gift.
2. Work's Origin: The Creation Mandate (Gen 1-2):
   • Imago Dei: We are made in God's image (Gen 1:26-27), inherently reflecting the Creator. This gives life profound value and purpose.
   • Pre-Fall Calling: God gave Adam work ("work it and keep it" - Gen 2:15) in the perfect Garden before sin. Work itself is good, part of God's original design.
3. The Intrinsic Value of Work: Work isn't just valuable for what it produces (instrumental value), but the act of working itself bears God's image, reflecting His creativity and stewardship. Even simple tasks, done attentively, can be acts of worship.
4. Work After the Fall (Gen 3): Sin brought frustration, sweat, and futility into work, making it feel like a curse. We experience this tension daily.
5. Redeemed Motivation: Work for the Lord (Col 3:17, 23): Paul calls us to work heartily "as for the Lord." This requires a renewed mind, shifting motivation from human approval or obligation to pleasing God. It involves "faithful presence"—being attentive and reflecting His character wherever He places us.
6. Application: Motherhood (Debra's Testimony): The demanding, often unseen work of motherhood highlights this. Finding motivation shifts from meeting cultural standards or seeking external validation to seeking God first (Matt 6:33), trusting His grace, and modeling sincere faith (2 Tim 1:5) – knowing this work has eternal significance.
7. All Good Work Matters (Eph 2:10): God prepared good works for us all. Whether in business, law, arts, parenting, service – when done for His glory, reflecting His character (justice, beauty, care), it fulfills our creation mandate and has divine value. God isn't absent from our "secular" work.

Conclusion: Our daily work, in all its forms, is a primary context for living out our faith and bearing God's image. By renewing our minds and motivations, seeking God first, and practicing faithful presence, we can transform toil into worship and participate in God's redemptive work in the world.

Call to Action:

• Reframe your work: See its potential for reflecting God's image and purpose, not just as a job or chore.
• Check your motivation: Ask God to help you work "as for the Lord" today.
• Practice faithful presence: Be attentive to God and others in your work environment.
• Mothers (and all): Seek God first (Matt 6:33). Don't grow weary in doing good (Gal 6:9); trust His strength.
• Affirm the value of all work done for God's glory.

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