Hebraic
Musting - Don’t let Work be a substitute for Worship!
We already know that we can’t work our way
into Heaven!!! But how easy is it to let
work get in the way of worship? The
commandment to observe the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) serves as a reminder that
while work is important, it must be balanced with rest and worship. The 5th of the 10 commandments
seems to be a link between the commandments re honoring God and those involving
our daily lives.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it
holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day
is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither
you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your
animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made
the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on
the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Exodus 20:8-11 NIV
Psalm 103:1-2 tells us how our Soul is to
Bless the LORD. “Praise the LORD, O
my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my
soul, and forget not all his benefits—” and it goes on to describe the
benefits.
Work becomes a substitute for worship when
it takes the place in your heart, identity, and priorities that should belong
to God. Does work become your
identity? For example -- Instead of
saying “I work as a lawyer,” it becomes, “I am a lawyer.” Is it your job that defines who you are by
giving you identity, meaning and purpose at your core? What do you sacrifice for? Does your work become Worship when you find
yourself sacrificing for the sake of your family?
This perspective challenges the traditional
separation of "spiritual" and "secular" activities,
suggesting that all work, regardless of its nature, can be an act of worship
when approached with the right intention and perspective. It calls for a shift in mindset where work is
viewed as an extension of worship, serving God and others with a heart of
devotion and purpose.
Note - Webster’s
definitions:
Work - to perform work or
fulfill duties regularly for wages or salary.
Worship - to regard with great
or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.
How and when should we be “Praising the
LORD”? This reminds me of the Martha
& Mary comparison. Martha invited
Jesus to her home, “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that
had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don't you care that my sister
has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’
the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about
many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and
it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:40-42 NIV
Who is your boss? Why are you working and who are you working
for? “Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that
you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord
Christ you are serving.” Is your
labor an offering? Colossians 3:23-24
exhorts us to work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were serving the
Lord rather than people.
Is a priest or pastor or ministry workers
violating the Sabbath when holding church services on Saturday or Sunday? Is preaching a message on the Sabbath work
or is it worship? What does that depend
on?
Points
to Ponder
Do we realize daily
that we are working for Christ?
When does a priest
or pastor or ministry workers get their day of rest, their Sabbath?
Has work become your
Source of Security?
The Bible tells us
to be diligent workers, so should we be hard workers for 6 or for 7 days?
"So whether you eat or drink or
whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
Yosef a.k.a. Joe
Brusherd
March 17, 2026
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our
faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)” Weekly “Hebraic
Musings”
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