Hard work is the sacred cow of our society. If anybody dares to demean it, he will be crucified. Enter Jesus: beckoning all those who were beat down with labor and heavy workloads to come to Him (Matthew 11:28). Clearly, He was proclaiming a radical alternative to the world’s system. Christ courageously led a revolution against its most idolized value: hard work. All achievement gets its praise. All victors exalt it. Works are even preached as the way to heaven.

He said, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Then He had the nerve to promise rest with His labor. What a job offer!

“A man must break his back to earn his day of leisure" (John Lennon), is the dictate of the world’s system. Christ’s hostile takeover recruited the entire workforce of His competition by making a better offer. In contrast, “And I will give you rest,” means if you’ll cease from your own labors under the oppressive taskmaster of this world’s ways and make me your boss, “all these things will be added to you.”

Under His yoke, wages become incidental. And you’ll love your job because it’s no longer just a job, it’s a cooperative effort with the most amazing employer in the universe.

Fulfillment is the missing element in many jobs. Many work for money only, with no personal satisfaction. This is how Jesus could so audaciously tell the rich young ruler to sell everything he has and give it away to the poor. But then He adds, “and come follow me.” The personal fulfillment of that can’t be beat by anything, especially money.

Someone once said, “If you love your job, you’ll never work again.” Transferring total dependence to Jesus transforms our labor. Bearing His yoke and carrying His burden converts toil into blessing. It transforms wages into rewards. It signs Christ’s name to the bottom of your check inspiring a tithing acknowledgement of thanks to the corporate head of the universe.

Rendering all the lead credit to our senior partner makes labor a spiritual exercise. His Spirit within us supplies the guidance, inspiration, and the energy plus all the kingdom perks, including peace, joy, and righteousness. What corporation offers that?

Productivity with Him is extravagantly rewarded both now and in eternity. Since He owns everything, extraordinary benefits come in other categories as well, like his special divine health plan and the insurance protection of myriads of “ministering spirits sent forth on behalf of we who are the heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14).

Gracious increase and promotion is the delight of this employer, and it comes just for taking His yoke of faith and obedience. His contract promises “a blessing that cannot be contained” (Malachi 3:10). What a deal!

But the greatest promise of all is knowing Him. “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me” (Matthew 11:29). Co-laboring with Christ promises experiential knowledge of Him. You can’t get that through books. Try working like He worked with His father. It will change you forever. Jesus delighted being about His Father’s business. Do we?

The rewards are not just temporal; they count for now, ten years from now, and eternity. Does your current vocation offer that? If not, you don’t need to change jobs, just your employer.

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