DEVOTION - Day 6: Hands and Hearts for God

Colossians 3:17-24; James 2:14-26

When I served on a camp staff several years ago, the program director would begin each day with a necessary and spirit-driven quote. Following his morning routine of announcements, a dose of morning humor, and a reading from the Bible, he would boldly proclaim, “Now, Hands to work and Hearts to God.”

One goal this week was to get us to start thinking that whatever we work at, whether career, home, or otherwise, God is involved. In all ways, to say “hearts to God” insists upon putting our hands to work. And, in the same way, in order to work physically, mentally or otherwise, our heart must be given to God.

Day 1 and 2 raised questions considering God as the primary worker and humanity as dependent on God for vocational choice, accomplishment and rest. The first days reminded us that work requires dependence on God. Days 3 and 4 discussed how God’s Spirit empowers us to use our hands and hearts together. The purpose of God’s Spirit in our lives is that our work is not for earthly pleasures, but “for God’s glory and neighbors’ good.” We live by the Holy Spirit, working to bless our neighbors and Creator.



Days 5 and 6 were about both the dangers and possibilities of work. Day 5 was about being a workaholic and laboring in vain. Day 6 was about how God empowers us to go beyond all that we ever dreamed possible for ourselves. Examples of God’s spirit empowering people beyond what is expected are: Martin Luther King, Jr., Billy Graham, Dorothy Day, and Bono (U2). God empowers, equips, and sends us to do work in ways that exceed our imagination. God is intimately involved with our daily work. No longer can our Monday be separated from Sunday; in other words, our vocations are connected to our faith.

In the New Testament, those who serve the Lord teaching, preaching and church planting are not an organized bunch of pastors. No, the leaders of the church are often tentmakers. A tentmaker is someone who works a full-time job in order to support their church ministry. The term comes from the Apostle Paul; he made tents to support his church planting and preaching ministry. We are tentmakers. You labor and toil at home so that you can come to Pine Ridge unencumbered by money. However, remember that your work at home is not simply to earn a paycheck. In your professions, you labor for the glory of God just as you do here at Pine Ridge.

Lydia was a tentmaker in the New Testament. She made fine linens to the glory of God. In our tentmaking professions, we do not merely punch the clock, but we labor at work and at play for God’s glory. We always give our best. We follow through on our commitments; we exceed expectations; we seek excellence in everything. We do this, not for human approval, but for God, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” (Colossians 3:17, 24).

As we leave here, let us remember that in everyday, “Hands to work and Hearts to God.” Let us continue to work in diligence, honesty, and achievement to the glory of God and the good of our neighbor. Amen.