What Pentecost Means for our Work

(Note: This article was written for and published on The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics blog in two parts, here and here.)

The Day of Pentecost has sometimes been overlooked in many churches I have attended, which is unfortunate. What happened with the early church in Jerusalem fifty days after the Passover clearly empowered them to do the work Jesus had called them to do, which radically changed the civilized world as we know it. The Holy Spirit’s power and presence continues to impact our workplaces today.

In my Christian walk, I have observed several key truths about the Holy Spirit I would like to explore. The power of the indwelling Spirit enables Christians to do great things for Christ’s Kingdom. We experience God’s presence through the Holy Spirit as He teaches us and reminds us of Jesus’s words. The gifts of the Holy Spirit help us to find our purpose. The fruit of the Spirit makes us like Christ.

The power of the Holy Spirit

The best place to start our discussion on the impact that the Day of Pentecost had on the work of Jesus’s disciples and with believers today would be to unpack the power of the Holy Spirit. Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem to “wait for the gift my Father promised” (Acts 1:4). Jesus said that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” and that this gift would enable them to be His witnesses “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

In Acts 2:1-41, the Holy Spirit did a mighty work among the ethnically diverse crowd gathered on the Day of Pentecost to expand the church to 3,000 new believers. The Spirit worked in and through Peter as evidenced by his powerful preaching where He moved in the hearts of the Gentiles who had heard the gospel of Jesus Christ in their own language and repented. The church continued to work in the power of the Holy Spirit as God’s coworkers to expand His church in Jerusalem on a global scale.

This power the apostles had enabled them to do the challenging work Jesus called them to do. This same power that resides in us gives us strength to obey God in order to live the Christian life. The Holy Spirit gives ordinary Christians the ability to work with a renewed mind and a higher purpose.   

Tom Nelson, in Work Matters, heartily echoes this concept, “You were created with work in mind. You have been gifted to do a particular work. As a follower of Christ who has been born from above, you have been equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit to make an important vocational contribution, a contribution that God has providentially arranged for you to make in this world.”  

The presence of God in the Holy Spirit

Wayne Grudem, in his book, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine defines one attribute of the Holy Spirit: “The work of the Holy Spirit is to manifest the active presence of God in the world, and especially in the church. This definition indicates that the Holy Spirit is the member of the Trinity whom the Scripture most often represents as being present to do God’s work in the world.”

Let me highlight a few key verses from the Gospel of John where Jesus mentioned the Holy Spirit. In John 14:17, Jesus taught His disciples that the Father would give them a Counselor, who “lives with you and will be in you.” His constant presence and still, small voice would teach and remind them of what Jesus said (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit would guide them in the truth (John 16:13). Since Jesus was about to depart, He wanted to assure them that both His Father and He would be with them at all times so that they could know Him, follow Him, and remain faithful to fulfill their calling.

The Apostle Paul taught that every follower of Jesus Christ is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). We are like “walking tabernacles” of God’s presence wherever we go, including the workplace. Just like the tabernacle, the portable temple where God’s presence resided that the Israelites carried through the wilderness for 40 years until they entered the Promised Land, we too can experience the presence of God as we travel through the wilderness of our workplaces over our 40-year careers. He blesses our employers, coworkers, subordinates, and customers as He works with us, in us, and through us.

Miroslav Volf, in his book, Work in the Spirit concurs. He emphasizes that “the whole Christian life is a life of cooperation with God through the presence of the Spirit. A Christian’s mundane work is no exception. Here, too, one must say: I work, and the Spirit of the resurrected Christ works through me.” In my own faith and work journey as a follower of Jesus Christ, I know the presence of the Holy Spirit makes a huge difference in my life at home, at work, at church, and everywhere I go. I can honestly say that even now, I am experiencing His presence as I write this article about His presence.

The power and presence of God is manifested in the Holy Spirit, who indwells every Christ-follower upon their conversion. God’s presence isn’t something that is given solely for our comfort and God’s power isn’t merely given to help us to overcome sin. The indwelling Holy Spirit supernaturally changes us from the inside out. His work is a major component of the sanctification process as God makes us like Jesus. The gifts and the fruit of the Spirit outwardly display this transformation.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit

Here are the passages where the Apostle Paul provides a list of spiritual gifts for all believers: Rom. 12:4-8, 1 Cor. 12:4-11, and Eph. 4:11-13. The Apostle Peter mentions them in 1 Pet. 4:10-11.

To begin, let us go back to the book of Exodus, where we see a worker who yielded his talents to serve God. Yahweh selected a craftsman named Bezalel, one of the talented construction workers that He ordained to be in charge of building and furnishing his tabernacle. God tells Moses, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.” (See Ex. 31:1-3.)

I do not think that Bezalel suddenly developed these things overnight. To the contrary, he had already possessed these technical skills, aptitudes, and know-how because God had sovereignly developed them over the course of his entire life “for such a time as this.” The presence of the Spirit of God enabled him to do the job well, with the strength that God provided to accomplish this great work.

The spiritual gifts each Christian has were designed to be used in and out of the church, wherever we work. Paul indicated that this outworking of the Holy Spirit was “given for the common good.” (See 1 Cor. 12:7.) Miroslav Volf writes, “As the firstfruits of salvation, the Spirit of Christ is not only active in the Christian fellowship but also desires to make an impact on the world through the fellowship.”

The fruit of the Holy Spirit

In contrast to the gifts, which are assigned at conversion, the fruit of the Spirit develops over time. Paul lists them in Gal. 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” If we display these qualities at work to our bosses, coworkers, employees, and customers, which lines up perfectly with what Jesus taught His disciples to do, this could radically change the world we know it as well.

Let me focus on two examples from the list above that can make an impact at work: love and joy.

A good friend of mine whom I have known for over 30 years and is a pastor in the Seattle area shared in his blog about Jesus’ teaching on treating others with the same kind of love that God does in Luke 6:27-36. He asks some hard questions: “What would happen in your workplace if a couple of people began treating everyone at work this way? Would that change the environment of your work place? I think so. Treating others this way has the potential to transform your workplace relationships.”

Christians who display joy will bring something positive to the workplace that the world cannot provide. When we go through a trial and have confidence in God’s ability to work out all things for good, those who do not know Him may ask us where this joy comes from. At that moment, we have earned the right to explain to our co-workers the reason for the hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15.)

Where do we go from here?

Writing about deep theological topics is a fun hobby for me. However, if I don’t make it practical or if the average Christian reading what I’ve written doesn’t have a clue what to do with it, I’ve failed. There are a number of ways that these reminders about the ministry of the Holy Spirit that Christians celebrate on Pentecost Sunday can impact what we do at work the following Monday morning.

Thank God for His Holy Spirit. Ask Him to help you to understand His power in your life, experience His presence every day. Use your spiritual gift(s) inside and outside the church. Develop the fruit of the Spirit. Intentionally interface with the Holy Spirit by focusing on how we are called to relate to Him; i.e., be led by (Rom. 8:14), walk by (Gal. 5:16), and be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 4:29).

I trust that this exposition of how Pentecost impacts our ordinary work will cause you to experience the power and presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit at work, so that you can give hope to a lost world.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. Over one hundred of these have been published or posted on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See complete list of published articles on Linktree.)

I Don’t Know What I’d do Without You

One morning on the way to work a couple of weeks ago, I was inspired when a familiar Christian song by David Meece came up on Spotify. The song is called, “I Don’t Know What I’d do Without You.”

Here are the words to the chorus:

And I don’t know what I’d do without You
Oh, I don’t know what I’d do without You
And I don’t know where I’d be
If You hadn’t rescued me
Don’t know what I’d do without You

I was moved to worship God as I listened to the lyrics of the song. My mind flashed with images of how beautiful my life has been since I became a Christian at age 17. Here are just a few of the radical transformations I experienced since then: I have been forgiven and set free from sin and death, my relationships are sweeter and less selfish, and God has brought me immeasurable peace and joy.

Then I thought it might be worth imagining what my life would have been like if I had not been saved.

This idea connects with the classic movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Clarence, the guardian angel who desperately wants to earn his wings, gives Jimmy Stewart’s character George Bailey a wonderful gift, a chance to see what life would have been like if he had never been born. I want to give myself and my readers a gift – a chance to see what my life would have been like if I had never been born again.

I have been set free

When we become Christians, it is like the ultimate fresh start. Jesus said that we must be born again. Paul adds that if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor. 5:17). Scripture makes it clear that when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, all our sins are forgiven: past, present, and future. Jesus said that “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). We cannot earn this; it is a free gift by grace through faith in Christ.

Moreover, we are no longer slaves to our sin or our own fleshly desires. (See Rom. 6:5-6.) We have power over the flesh, the world, and the devil that we did not have as a non-believer. When we allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out, He makes us more like Jesus. That process began on Day 1 and will continue until the Lord returns or takes us home. The Apostle Paul stated that he was confident “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6.) We merely have to obey what we know is true and trust God for the results.

If I hadn’t experienced all of what I just described above, I would have been a slave to my flesh. There would have been no hope of becoming a better man. I would have never felt the relief of forgiven sin.

Relationships have been transformed

David Meece sang, “I don’t know where I’d be”. I can state unequivocally that I would be in a completely different place with regards to my relationships if I had not become a Christian.

Jesus taught us to love our neighbor. This applies to how we treat people in general. It also applies directly to how I pursued relationships, specifically with regard to the opposite sex. In my teenage years before I met Christ. I know that I was using people and only looking out for my interests.

After I became a Christian, my motivation changed completely. I was committed to pursuing purity in my relationships. As a result, God led me to a woman who was also committed to the same thing. He brought us together and gave us a beautiful life and marriage the past 42 years, with three children and five grandchildren. If I had not understood the importance of loving my neighbor and never learned to truly love others sacrificially, selflessly, and unconditionally, I would have had a pretty empty life.

There is peace and joy

One of the unique elements of the Christian life is receiving the peace and joy that flow from a relationship with Christ. These hard to find qualities come from Jesus Himself. He taught, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives” (John 14:27). He added, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).

This aspect of my faith means much to me as I have experienced this daily. There has been peace in the midst of the storms of my life through every season, whether it was getting through college, finding my first job, learning how to be a husband and a father, getting fired, or losing a parent. The joy of the Lord has indeed been my strength. Without it, I would have been anxious and sad most of the time.

Closing thoughts

 In summary, here is the kind of person I imagine that I would have become if I’d never met Jesus.

Quite simply, I would have never found God’s forgiveness. I would have been continually frustrated about my failures and limitations, but would have had no hope of achieving any lasting results from my fruitless self-improvement efforts. I would have selfishly pursued love for many lonely years, but would have had to settle for less than God’s best because I would have had no way to find it being lost, blind, and God’s enemy. Lastly, I would have never understood God’s truth or experienced His presence in my life, which has brought me immeasurable peace and joy over the past 45 years.

I trust that this vivid contrast between what is true of my life now (only by the grace of God) and what would have been if I had never heard and responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ was eye-opening. Perhaps it will spur you to not take for granted the irreversible transformations you have in Christ.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 300 articles, most of them on faith and work topics. Over 120 of these have been published or posted on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)

Reflections on the Impacts of Teleworking from a Biblical Worldview

(Note: This article was published on the Coram Deo blog.)

Dr. Grant Howard, one of my favorite seminary professors from Western Seminary, taught that you can start with a portion of God’s word and apply it to a variety of issues. Or, you can start with a small slice of life and then go to God’s word in a variety of places to find relevant truth.

I ran into an article someone posted on social media a couple of weeks ago that grabbed my heart and head. I wanted to tackle this topic from a biblical, theological, and practical perspective and reflect a bit deeper on the long-term impacts of teleworking on employees and employers.

Let me summarize some of the fascinating data points, observations, and implications I took away from this article written by Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, who is an expert on returning to the office and leading hybrid teams after the pandemic. This piece was published on Forbes, and is entitled, “Workers Are Less Productive Working Remotely (At Least That’s What Their Bosses Think).”

Article summary

This discussion was eye-opening. It stated that Microsoft released a new study that concluded that over 80% of leaders said that the “shift to hybrid work has made it challenging to have confidence that employees are being productive.” As a result, “50% of the bosses of knowledge workers intend to force them into the office by Spring 2023.” Why? Nearly half of managers of hybrid workers “struggle to trust their employees to do their best work.” This lack of trust seems to be especially felt by traditional, older managers (age 50-60), which I did not find at all surprising.

This common fear by managers is in spite of years of research since the pandemic, which has consistently shown that remote work improved productivity. One study among call center employees indicated that “work from home resulted in a 13% performance increase, due to a combination of fewer sick days, and a quieter and more convenient work environment. Those working from home had a 50% lower attrition rate.” Other studies assessed it at 5-7%.

However, this concern about the lack of productivity at home ignores data about workplace behavior. The author asks, “are workers all that productive in the office? Studies show that in-office employees only work between 36% and 39% of the time.” What does he believe workers are doing instead? He speculates that they are shopping on Amazon and checking social media.

Additionally, the phrase, “out of sight, out of mind” has a real impact on employee evaluations and promotions, which was not surprising to me. It was reported that “researchers found that remote employees who work just as hard and just as long as those in the office in similar jobs end up getting lower performance evaluations, decreased raises, and less promotions.”

The author credits the Harvard Business Review with their assessment that “leaders are trained to evaluate employees based on ‘facetime.’ Those who come early and leave late are perceived and assessed as more productive.” This due in part to “proximity bias,” which they define as a mental blind spot that causes managers to “have an unfair preference for and higher ratings of employees who come to the office, compared to those who work remotely, even if the remote workers show higher productivity.” He adds, “The face-to-face interactions between managers and employees lead to managers having more positive impressions of these employees.”

Dr. Tsipursky advises, “To succeed in our increasingly hybrid and remote future will require retraining managers in evaluating performance and addressing proximity bias. Companies will have to teach them to trust the data over their own gut reactions. They’ll also have to learn a new approach to performance evaluations, one customized to hybrid and remote work.”

This article has several relevant implications that should be of interest to Christian employers and workers: How do we build trust between employers and employees who work remotely? How do workers maintain a culture of dedication and productivity, whether absent or present? How can employers ensure fairness between those who work in person and those who work remotely?

Building trust between employer and employee

This article highlighted the lack of trust between employer and employee. When I worked virtually for several months, this was my biggest challenge. The best part of the experience was not seeing my boss all the time. The worst part was not seeing her often enough. There was a lack of trust on her part. She could not see what I was working on and assumed I had time to do extra projects.

In the OT Scriptures, the way of wisdom included the importance of submission to one’s boss. In Prov. 10:26, we read that a lazy employee is an irritation to his supervisor. Later, we learn that a trustworthy employee brings refreshment to his boss (Prov. 25:13). It would seem from reading these verses that the burden is on the worker to show their diligence and trustworthiness.

In a virtual or hybrid work environment, it is critical when both employer and employee are “out of sight, out of mind” to be intentional on scheduling regular opportunities to communicate to eliminate any doubts in the employer’s mind that the employee is worthy of his or her trust.

Building a culture of dedication

The statistic cited above where office employees only worked “between 36% and 39% of the time” was astounding to me. I cannot imagine this percentage would be applicable to many other fields of work outside an office. Every job has its share of down time. However, if folks are working less than 40% of the time, that indicates systemic laziness, which Christian workers should avoid.

In two of the Apostle Paul’s letters, standard expectations for employees are raised to a higher level, as Christians know who it is they ultimately work for. In Eph. 6:5-8, we read, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” He expresses something very similar in Col. 3:22-24.

The Theology of Work Bible Commentary explains, “Paul reminds slaves that their work is to be done in integrity in the presence of God, who is their real master. . . Slaves are to work ‘fearing the Lord’ (Col. 3:22) because ‘you serve the Lord Christ’ (Col. 3:24).” They conclude, “Paul reminds us that the Ultimate Boss is always watching and that reality leads us to work in ‘sincerity of heart,’ not putting on a show for management, but genuinely working at the tasks set before us.” 

When I worked from home for a bit three years ago, I knew God was present in my new workspace. It did not matter where I worked or who was watching me; I was working as unto the Lord.

Ensuring fairness between in-person and remote workers

It is easy to understand how employers would naturally lean towards giving better evaluations and might choose those employees whom they see in person as being better suited for a promotion.

However, if hybrid or virtual work is going to continue, and all indications tell us that it will, employers are going to have to adapt to new ways of communicating to ensure that equal time and attention is given to all employees, whether they are sitting in the office with us or on a Zoom call.

Perhaps, the commandment to love our neighbor that Jesus said was on equal footing with loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength might be applicable for the Christian employer. For the Apostle Paul, much of his teaching to the neighbors he poured his life into was virtual. He longed to see them face to face (1 Thes. 3:10), but he had to be content to exhort them through letter writing. The Apostle John felt the same way. (See 2 John 12.)

Where do we go from here?

I trust that both Christian employers and employees have been confronted with some new thoughts that can be translated into good habits in this hybrid work environment. If we continue to serve our employees, submit to our bosses, and work wholeheartedly for the Lord, we will bless others.

(Note: I invite you to read previous articles I wrote about my experiences with teleworking during the pandemic here and returning to the office after a season of teleworking here.)

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. Over one hundred of these have been published or posted on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See complete list of published articles on Linktree.)

The Value of Men’s Retreats

There they were, on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus’s closest disciples, Peter, James, and John were with Jesus at what could reasonably called the first Christian men’s retreat (Matt. 17:1-8).  

Jesus hand-selected these teammates and took them up an unnamed mountain to get away after a long stretch of preaching and healing. The highlight of this time together was that something unusual happened to Jesus. It is reported that he was “transfigured,” which is described as his face shining the like the sun and His clothes becoming as white as can be. Right away, Jesus’ disciples noticed that there were two visitors among them, that they somehow were able to identify as Moses and Elijah.

It was rather intense, so Peter asked Jesus if they could hang out a while, in tents.

While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud came overhead and they heard a loud voice, saying, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matt. 17:5). They recognized this as the voice of God the Father, so the three disciples fell on their faces in worship and fear. Jesus told them to get up and to not be afraid. Once they did, they saw that Moses and Elijah were gone.

This brief episode has all the elements of a well-designed men’s retreat. A handful of committed believers separated themselves from their responsibilities at home for a short time in order to get some quality time with Jesus and each other. There were two guest speakers. They encountered God in a new way. He spoke to each of them directly, giving them something to think about and apply.

I will discuss what happened at the Christian men’s retreat that I attended last weekend, what I got out of it, and then reflect on their value in building our Christian faith, particularly among men.

What happened at our retreat?

The event I attended last weekend was a relatively small gathering of men from the area. It was not tied to a local church or a national organization. The two coworkers from the camp that put on this Unbroken Men’s Conference had a vision to see if they could use their facility to host a men’s retreat. This was the first time they offered this event. Their desire was to see what God could do. The men who organized this event prayed for the right men to come. Eight of us were from our military chapel community on Fort Leonard Wood. All were active duty, except for one retiree (me).

I have to say that the event was extremely well-planned by the program director who had decades of experience. There were five general sessions scheduled from Friday night to Sunday morning that were led by gifted local guest speakers. One involved a night hike. They had meaningful worship times prior to them and small group discussions afterwards. The resident chef cooked up some great food, serving manly meals like pizza and wings, biscuits and gravy, hamburgers, and fajitas. They brought in a Christian comedian. They planned three hours of open activity time, where they offered options like rock climbing, archery, or a hike to explore a wild cave on their property.

What did I get out of it personally?

For me, I was grateful that this retreat gave me the chance to have some real fellowship. It had been several years since I had attended something like this, where I was able to connect with my brothers in Christ on a deeper level. I got to listen to their struggles, and I think I shared some of my own.

I am not sure that there were any major life-changing revelations that I received during the messages that were well-delivered by our guest speakers. What was the most helpful to me was hearing some of their stories, which included how God rescued them from near death and from bitterness. As I listened to them, I was reminded of how God has worked in my own life and continues to work.

A retreat helps us to advance in our faith and develop relationships

I have attended a number of Christian men’s retreats and conferences over the years, from church retreats with a dozen men to Promise Keepers events in stadiums filled with tens of thousands.

This should be no surprise to anyone. Christian retreats, camps, conferences, service projects, mission trips, and such are excellent opportunities for children, youth, and adults to break away from the influences of the world for a weekend or a week (or longer) to invest some much-needed time in order to recenter their commitment to Jesus. Even those who are disciplined enough to read their Bibles, attend church, pray, and serve the Lord on a regular basis will grow deeper in their faith.

Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane prayed for His disciples, which I am amazed to see includes present day disciples like you and me. (See John 17:20.) A portion of His prayer applies to retreats. Jesus prayed that His Father would not “take them out of the world,” but that He would “protect them from the evil one. . . As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (John 17:15, 18). The temporary coming out of the world to get refocused implies going back into it a little less worldly and more committed to reaching those who are of the world with the good news of Jesus.

Retreats also give us a chance to work on our relationships with fellow believers. This happens at mealtimes, sitting together while having devotions, doing fun activities, worshipping together, interacting in small group discussions, and taking advantage of unscheduled time to listen to another share their struggles or open up to our own in a much deeper way that we never get to do back home.

Why do men specifically need these kind of events?

Men tend to be isolated. Perhaps it has to do with pride. Maybe it is because generally speaking, we are less social than women. We might do stuff together, like watch or play sports, build things, fish or hunt, but rarely do we share our deepest struggles in our faith with a guy we can trust. During a retreat or conference, we usually have plenty of opportunities to do this, which always makes us better. Proverbs 27:17 describes this process. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

For me, I know that I have a tendency to be a “Lone Ranger” Christian; just me and God. I have gone for long stretches of time where I do not have any kind of fellowship with a brother in Christ at all. This has been true especially when I have been in a leadership position. I know that I am not unique.

The time that we sacrifice to get away from our responsibilities, invest in our vertical and horizontal relationships, and hear life-changing truths about who we are as men with unique callings given by God are absolutely invaluable to our survival. It enables us to fight the good fight of faith while remembering that the battle belongs to the Lord. Whether we are standing in a stadium full of men singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” with arms raised and tears streaming down our faces or singing “Amazing Grace” in a cave with a dozen men, our hearts are impacted, and our faith is renewed.  

Where do I go from here?

Here is what I am hoping will be possible responses to what I have shared above:

• Attend the next men’s retreat or conference that you hear about; just go!
• If there haven’t been any lately, ask your church leaders if you can help plan one
• Sponsor someone you know who needs to go to, but can’t afford it
• If you make a new friend at a men’s event, continue to build that relationship
• If married, support your wife by encouraging her to go to a women’s retreat
• If you have kids, ensure that they attend youth retreats and mission trips
• Lead by example by making it a point to attend men’s events often

I look forward to the next Unbroken Men’s Retreat. I know I will still have some growing to do.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. Over one hundred of these have been published or posted on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See complete list of published articles on Linktree.)

When is it Time to Stop Paid Employment?

Seven more years of work!

These words came to my mind one Friday night in the fall of 2019. They elicited a wide range of emotions at that very moment: peace, fear, relief, uncertainty, determination, focus, and hope. Since that time, I have added two more years to my timeline. I shared it with my wife, and I believe I have her blessing. Lord willing, my full-time job will end in the fall of 2028. I will be 70 years old.

Gene Veith, in God at Work shares this helpful insight: “Retirement from a lifelong vocation can be difficult, especially for those with Protestant work ethics. Properly, though, the laying down of a vocation after many years of work is a kind of Sabbath, a kind of reward for service rendered.”

Although I am looking forward to being set free from the stressful responsibilities of full-time paid employment, I am quite anxious about it. I anticipate that it will be extremely difficult for me to let it all go. As I think about the future, I am also reminded of a verse that applies to this personal decision: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring” (Prov. 27:1). 

In the reflection that follows, I do not intend to boast about my decision. I am not a subject matter expert on this topic. I still have a lot to learn. However, it is something I am very much interested in at this point in my life. I think that it is a topic worthy of discussion from a theological perspective.

Some things to consider

Let me start with a long quote from my book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession.

It is obvious that in everyone’s life there will come a point in which hard decisions have to be made with respect to discontinuing employment and forgoing a full-time paycheck. Physical ailments, limitations, or disabilities plus the diminished mental capacity that often accompanies getting older will make it abundantly clear that it will be time to remove ourselves from the workforce since it would no longer be a good investment for our employer.

Once we are exempt from the nine-to-five job, we are free to make ourselves available to God and to others, serving them wholeheartedly with what remains of our bodies, minds, and time.

John Becket, in Mastering Monday: A Guide to Integrating Faith and Work exhorts, “God would want the latter years of our lives to be exceedingly fruitful – a time of influence and opportunity, years when we synthesize the wisdom gained from a lifetime of experience, years when we can impart strength to emerging generations, years when we can wisely steward resources that have been entrusted to us. In a way, these years are a test of all we truly believe. The Lord wants us to succeed to the last. He wants us to finish strong.”

I would like to think that during this final season of work and for the remainder of my life after I stop taking a paycheck, I could finish well. I hope I could exemplify Ps. 92:14, “They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” I am committed to pushing myself until it is clear I need to step aside and let someone else take my responsibilities. When that day comes, I am confident that I will find something of value to do with my time and talents for the glory of God.

Linda’s story

I know I am a little biased, but I have a good example of someone who left her career gracefully. Recently, in a session where I have been teaching this book to a small group as part of our military chapel community’s Wednesday night discipleship program, my wife shared her experience several years ago when she sensed after nearly 20 years that it was time to retire from teaching preschool.

She began to notice that she was struggling more than a little bit with her physical limitations and also with her emotional ones as well. Occasionally, she would get short with kids just being kids, which wasn’t fair to them. This difficult decision on the timing of her departure was completely up to her. She chose to get out before her limitations became a burden to her customers and coworkers.

I did not realize at the time (as I was focused more on the loss of income) that she executed a rather impressive and selfless exit strategy. This inspires me to do the same kind of honest assessment when I begin to see that I can no longer fulfill my responsibilities to my boss, coworkers, and customers.

Example from Scripture

In addition to the personal example above, there is a brief incident in the life of the prophet Elijah where he recognized that his calling had come to an end, and he handed his ministry off to Elisha.

In 1 Kings 19:9-21, we read what happened to Elijah immediately following his decisive victory over the prophets of  Baal in the previous chapter. Here, we see a God who is faithful to His chosen vessel and is still very much present with him. Yahweh speaks to Elijah in a still, small voice, or a “low whisper” in the ESV (v. 12). God gives him instructions about anointing kings over Syria and Israel, and then He basically fires him. God orders Elijah to anoint Elisha to be Yahweh’s new prophet.

The transition between old and new prophets is a mere blip on the radar screen. Elijah departs from the cave and finds Elisha who was plowing with a dozen yoke of oxen. It says that Elijah “passed by him and cast his cloak upon him” (1 Kings 19:19). After sacrificing the oxen, he went with Elijah.

It is an understatement that Elijah was worn out from defeating the prophets of Baal. He may have been depressed. God could have restored him and continued to use him, but He graciously allowed Elijah to finish out his career on a high note and begin the process of training his replacement.

My plan as I move forward

As I mentioned earlier, my revised timeline is about five years from now. I recently narrowed it down to the month and day in 2028. I will have spent just over 20 years on active duty and the same in civilian service. At that time, Lord willing, I can humbly take my final bow and exit stage left.

Between now and then, here are some of the considerations that I need to focus on:

• I want to finish strong, and not fizzle out
• If my mental or physical capacities begin to decline earlier than my target date, I want to be the first to recognize (not my boss) that it is time for me to go
• I need to ensure I set my successor up for success by leaving continuity files
• I want to give all the glory to God for putting me here in this position for such a time as this and for sustaining me for many years doing the same job
• I want to be prepared for the next chapter, which I hope involves more frequent writing and the opportunity to do some speaking opportunities

What if?

But what if I am not able to complete this plan? What if my job ends prematurely? What if I do?

As I said earlier, I am sometimes fearful about my future. What if I have a boss in a few years that does not appreciate my sense of humor, thinks I have become complacent, or is difficult to work for? What if I am told that my contributions are no longer needed, that I am too old, or that it is time for new blood in the organization? What if I have a major health issue that abruptly ends my career?

Obviously, I have no control over these things. I know I do not need to be anxious about them.

James shares this word: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:13-15). This is why Christians will often say, “Lord willing.” Our plans are always going to be tentative. God’s plans will stand. I think James’ main point is that our lives are fragile and unpredictable.

I need to be ready to go when God says it is time to go. He is in control. I work for Him. I have to trust Him to lead me all the way to the very end, just as He has led me in every phase of my career. I am counting on a solid Old Testament promise that has served me well my entire adult life: “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines His steps” (Prov. 16:9). Just like the hymn, “Amazing Grace” says, “His grace has brought me safe thus far. His grace will lead me home.”

What about you?

Most Christians my age and older are in the same boat as me. You will also need to figure out when it is time to retire and how to navigate through the rough waters, asking for God’s wisdom as you row.

I hope that the career God graciously gave you has been a blessing to you, your family, and those you have served along the way. I trust that as you contemplate when and how you want to finish, you will make it your goal to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:21)

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. Over one hundred of these have been published or posted on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See complete list of published articles on Linktree.)

Sacrificial Love Gives Us Endurance at Work

(Note: This article was published on the Christian Grandfather Magazine blog.)

Recently, I had some interesting thoughts regarding one of my favorite theology of work topics. Let me circle back to the subject of “thorns and thistles” of which I have written several articles on my blog and discussed in chapter 7 of my book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession.

I discovered a connection between Christian love and work that I had never noticed before. The main idea is that we can continue to pursue the challenging tasks we are called to do despite the difficulties we experience because love by definition implies sacrifice. We can endure during the hard times for three good reasons: 1) God calls us to work even though it is hard, 2), sacrifice demonstrates love to others, and 3) suffering for doing right is part of the normal Christian life. Let’s unpack this a bit.

God calls us to work, even though it is hard

Let me start at the beginning. In Gen. 1:28, God declares what is referred to as the creation or cultural mandate. It is both a blessing and a command. God had a critical job for Adam and Eve which also applies to us. They were called to cultivate the earth and bring out its potential, expand God’s creation, and be fruitful and multiply. This job began in Gen. 2:15 when God put them in the garden to work it.

We read in Gen. 3:16-19 that Adam’s sin resulted in God cursing the ground he was called to work. Instead of good things like food and flowers, the garden was now going to produce thorns and thistles, making work unnecessarily difficult. It also brought painful labor to Eve’s mission to bring forth new life. The very things that Yahweh called them to do were forever going to be harder than intended.

From this point forward, labor for men and women was going to be painful, time-consuming, frustrating, stressful, sweaty, and full of relational conflict. And yet, the work had to be done.

It also occurs to me that work is not just hard because of Adam’s sin and everyone else’s. It is hard by design. It takes physical effort to cut down trees, build a house, or haul in a net full of fish. It takes mental effort to analyze complex data, conduct legal research to defend a client, or to discover a cure for cancer. Even though work is hard, God created human beings in His image with strength of mind and body who have the capacity and capability to accomplish great things to expand His creation.

Sacrifice demonstrates love to others

The second reason that can motivate us to keep on working faithfully, even when it seems impossible is to do so, is to show love to those whom God has placed in our paths wherever it is that we work. If we press on when work is hard, it displays love to our bosses, coworkers, employees, and customers.

Love implies sacrifice. Love is defined as sacrificially meeting someone’s legitimate needs. We often have to give up something of ourselves: time, talent, or treasure. Think of the Good Samaritan. I am also reminded of Jesus washing the disciples’ dirty feet. That took love. (See John 13:1-17.)

The Apostle John wrote this powerful assessment regarding Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross for all humankind: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13).

There are countless examples of those whose work is incredibly difficult, and yet they continue doing it day after day because they love those whom they have been called to serve. Mothers and fathers immediately come to mind. They care for their children 24/7/365, keeping them alive, growing, and safe. There are many other workers who press on through incredible challenges. Think about teachers, nurses, police, etc., who do what they do out of love for those who desperately need their expertise.

Suffering is part of the Christian life

We have discussed that work is going to be difficult because of Adam’s sin. And yet, God calls us to work. When we willingly sacrifice our time, talent, and treasure, as well as giving up our pride, our sleep, a meal or two, and the freedom to do what we want in order to serve others, this demonstrates unconditional love. This kind of suffering, whether big or small, is a normal part of the Christian life.

The Apostle Peter gives Christian employees some helpful instructions. “Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.” (1 Peter 2:18). He exhorts workers to press on in spite of the actions of their sinful bosses. Peter also taught that suffering for doing good is to be expected. “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

I have only had a handful of what I would consider bad bosses in my many years with the Army. There was one I had a few years ago that forced me to focus on applying these biblical principles. I had to pray about my attitude and depend on the Holy Spirit to guide me as I responded to her yelling at me.

Working in an environment filled with sinful men and women (including ourselves) is one result of the Fall. This is the doctrine of original sin. (I invite you to read an article I wrote about this topic.)

We also know well that trials we go through build our character and increase our faith (James 1:2-4). Think of those irritating things and selfish people at work as a trial or a test that we must endure.

The good news is that God did not leave Adam and Eve to remain in the mess that they created for themselves and us. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings to all some measure of relief from the curse. He may not redeem work in this life, but He does redeem, renew, and restore workers who belong to Him.

Sherman and Hendricks, in Your Work Matters to God put this consequence of Adam’s sin in proper perspective. I absolutely love this quote. “Work is not our enemy. Sin is our enemy. And only Christ is adequate to deal with sin. His strategy for dealing with sin, however, is never to remove us from the jungle, but instead to make us adequate to live in the jungle … Sin may make the work world a jungle. But we must never forget that Christ is the Lion of Judah, the King of the jungle!”  Hallelujah!

Parting thoughts

When our jobs are the most difficult, if we reach out to the Lord by faith and seek His face in the Word and in prayer, His presence will be with us to give us strength to persevere through every trial we face.

As we serve our bosses, coworkers, employees, and customers with God’s sacrificial love that was modeled for us by Jesus, we glorify God. We put the spotlight on the one who redeems workers and enables them by grace to bring a bit of the Kingdom of God to our workplaces. God’s curse on work will continue until Jesus returns, but until then, let us continue to be faithful to love others in spite of it.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. Over one hundred of these have been published or posted on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See complete list of published articles on Linktree.)

Physical versus Mental Labor

So, there I was, breaking numerous dead branches into smaller ones so that they would fit into the leaf bag. I had collected them from the backyard where they had fallen from big trees over the past couple of weeks after winter storms. I gathered them into a pile and bagged them up.

It got me to thinking about my personal preferences for mental over physical labor. It is much more fun for me to write about doing yard work than to do it. For others, it would be the opposite.

It also got me thinking about people’s jobs. For some, it is mostly physical labor. For others, it is mainly doing cerebral tasks. For most of us, however, if we consider work in the broader sense of the things that we do during our waking hours to earn a paycheck, keep ourselves and our family alive, and take care of a home, it is a mix of both physical and mental labor. Everyone, me included, would say they would much rather be doing one than the other. That is a challenge we all face.

What I will attempt to do here is to reflect briefly on each kind of work. I will highlight some of the pros and cons of each. I will share a few Scriptures to help all of us to see these two categories of work through a biblical lens. Lastly, I will propose some practical suggestions to help us get the work done that we are not gifted to do. Perhaps there might be something here that we can learn.

Physical labor

This is what we mostly see being done in the Bible. Adam and Eve worked in a garden. David was a shepherd. There were many Spirit-filled tabernacle construction workers whose work is described in Exo. 31:1-11. Their story illustrates God’s presence at work, which I call Immanuel labor. It is well known that Jesus built useful things with His hands as a carpenter or stone mason.

What are some of the upsides of physical work? This work is satisfying. You can usually see the results of what you just made, painted, cleaned, or repaired. Those who do this kind of work for a living at a construction site or factory usually do not have to take their work home with them.

What are some of the downsides? In general, manual labor does seem to have a negative connotation. It implies mindless, endless, physically exhausting work that is judged by many as less valuable than everything else. The pay for this kind of work is usually less than what others receive. Sometimes, we think (incorrectly, I might add) that this kind of work is beneath us. Someone else can do it.

Due to the negative effects on work that we refer to as the Fall, physical work is much harder than it was designed. (See Gen. 3:17-19.) It is often dirty, sweaty, painful, frustrating, time-consuming, repetitive, and monotonous. It makes us tired. Working outside comes with sunburn and bugs. Sometimes it is dangerous, unsafe, and can be deadly. It gets much harder to do as we get older. Let us not forget the painful labor that women go through to bring children into the world.

Mental labor

In the Bible, we see many examples of people whose work would primarily fall into this category. This would include leaders, judges, kings, prophets, scribes, pastors, teachers, and others.

What are some of the upsides of mental work? I am not sweating as I am typing this sentence on my laptop. My muscles don’t hurt when I answer an email. I don’t injure myself while using a pen. We may be able to do this kind of work well into our 60s and beyond, as our bodies don’t wear out because of the work.

What are some of the downsides? There are many. This kind of work that may involve the use of technology, diagnosing complex health issues, winning a trial, or trying to motivate others to do something can be frustrating. We don’t always get the results we want to see in a timely manner. Also, those who want to enter these fields are often have to go to school for many years.

Mental work is also directly impacted by Adam’s sin, as well as our own and those we work with. It is much more complex that it was designed to be. We do not get the results we expect, i.e., thorns and thistles instead of crops. Time pressures add to the stress that is already there due to unreasonably high expectations, unrealistic deadlines, ungrateful customers, and uncooperative employees.

A theological perspective

I believe God leads His children where He needs them to serve, based on how He has designed them. A person’s physical and mental abilities (or lack thereof) play an important role in the kind of work they will pursue. For example, a person’s desires and strengths in working with their hands to build things, run a farm, or play professional sports, might lead them to choose these paths. A person whose bodies are not made this way would choose to go where they can do mental tasks.

Mike Wittmer, in his book, Becoming Worldly Saints shares this word of wisdom: “If God has called you to preach, go to seminary and become the best preacher you can be. If God has called you to be a plumber, start as an apprentice and run all your pipes downhill. Unless it’s an emergency, don’t try to preach if God has only gifted you to be a plumber. And don’t try plumbing if God has only gifted you to preach, because that may create an emergency!”

Another concept worth remembering is that God meets the wide spectrum of human needs through all kinds of workers. God works through road construction crews to meet our transportation needs. He uses teachers to meet our children’s academic needs. God also uses doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and hospital administrators to meet our families’ medical needs. Those who perform these jobs are God’s coworkers, participating in the creation mandate (Gen. 1:28) to sustain His creation.

My wife shared with me that when she has to use both her brain and her body to do things around the house, she feels like she has truly lived. I think that is because God made us that way.

The Apostle Paul issued some advice to Christian workers of all types, whether they worked with their hands or with their heads. “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” (Col. 3:23-24). This passage applies to us when we are working for a boss or by ourselves at home. We are to do our work, whatever it is, as if we were working for Jesus Christ, with humility, a spirit of excellence, and dedication to the task.

Working as unto the Lord

Let me propose some practical suggestions that might be helpful during those times when it is necessary for us to do physical work and we are not good at it (and vice versa)?

As I stated before, the majority of us must do a combination of physical and mental labor. Nearly all of us have to move furniture across a room, load things on a truck, sweep a floor, take out the trash, or clean the kitchen. Almost everyone also has to sit down to balance the checkbook, order items from a website, read and follow directions, negotiate a deal, or calculate a budget.

Perhaps, like me, your comfort zone is doing mental work. However, based on your role as a parent, homeowner, or a son or daughter, you may be required to do some physical work in order to show love to a grandchild, be a good steward of what God has given you, or help your mom. I had to wrestle with this as I painted my fence and had to regularly mow the lawn. I needed to remind myself that by doing this work, I was actually showing love to my wife and to my literal neighbors.

It is also worth mentioning that there is another alternative besides just gritting one’s teeth and doing something that is always going to difficult or near impossible in some cases. If you have the means, it is biblical to pay someone to do it. We hired our teenage neighbor to mow our lawn when it became too much for me. Hiring a professional ensures the job gets done right the first time (and doesn’t have to be redone by a professional later on). It provides income for their family and honors them for their years of training and experience. Jesus stated in Luke 10:7, “A worker is worthy of his wages.”

Another valid option is to ask a family member, friend, or neighbor to help. If you wish, you can remunerate them for their efforts by paying them back with a meal or doing something for them that they struggle with doing. This arrangement exemplifies loving one’s neighbor.

Whether one’s vocation is mostly using muscle or mind, their intrinsic value is the same. Each one’s work matters to God, assuming it adds to shalom in the world and is not prohibited in Scripture. I thank God for the variety of workers that God places in our world. He loves us through their work.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. Over one hundred of these have been published or posted over 200 times on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)

The Calling to Pursue your Educational Goals

Recently, In a moment when I was able to get away from my desk and take a break from answering emails and putting out fires, I recalled what I was doing this time ten years ago and 40 years ago.

In the winter of 2013, I was in my second semester of graduate school. The previous fall, I had started a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies with Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. I completed it in the spring of 2015. In 1983, I was a student at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon working on a Master of Arts in Christian Education. I was not able to complete that degree.

I’m wondering how many others were like me, who had a dream to earn a college or graduate degree but did not complete what they started due to family responsibilities. I know that college is not for everyone. However, there may be readers who wanted to attend college, but never got the chance. Let me provide a word of encouragement to those who are in school, those who have felt led to pursue it but have not yet done so, and those who may not have considered the value of higher education.

But first, let me discuss the link between your vocational calling and your educational goals.

Don’t give up on your calling

I believe God leads followers of Jesus into the fields of work where they have been gifted from birth and developed through childhood and beyond with aptitudes, abilities, and experiences that equip them to be able to meet the full spectrum of human needs. Mattson and Miller, in their book, Finding a Job You Can Love, remind us. “The contents of your personal history are not random or accidental. Your unique personality, character, and talents have done much to shape the important events in your life.”

In many career fields, higher education is a requirement. For example, if a Christian young man or woman feels led to be a doctor, lawyer, counselor, engineer, social worker, or minister, then they are also called to be a full-time student for a number of years in order to earn the credentials to do that job. However, there are a vast number of folks who have had that kind of calling on their lives, but have lacked the means in their families to even get to college. What advice can I give to them?

There are no easy answers, but this situation is no different than someone trying to get their foot in the door to employment or is seeking a mate. A Christian simply has to recognize that these challenges are all opportunities to trust God. Living independently as an adult is always going to be a spiritual adventure. While chasing after the dreams that God implants in your soul, keep seeking Him and do everything you can do to achieve that goal, even if it takes decades to see it through.

I know that God may direct and redirect you in unexpected ways along your career path. I encourage you to continuously listen to your regenerated heart and take those paths that God is leading you on. David says in Ps. 25:12, “Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.” David provides a similar promise to believers in Ps. 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

If you are in school now

Those who are in school may be restless, experience the effects of limited daylight, or have financial stress after the holidays, etc. If so, I encourage you to press on and study hard as unto the Lord.

If God has graciously provided for you to attend school to earn a degree in a field you have prayerfully felt led to pursue, then it should be clear that God has great plans for you, just like He does all of His children. You need to stay on track despite the challenges that you may be facing. He is with you.

If you have not had the chance to go

For those who have wanted to go to school for a while and you have been waiting on the right timing to go, perhaps it is time for you to step out in faith. If you are thinking about applying for a college or graduate program, your deadline to apply for the fall semester is rapidly approaching. Get on it.

I know that going through the financial aid process is daunting. It was for my three children a number of years ago. However, I was motivated to find everything that my daughter and sons were eligible for, including scholarships, grants, and loans. I would pay them $10 or $20 to apply for scholarships to make it worth their while. If they received a $1,000 award, it was a win for all concerned.

Making all of these efforts were based on the knowledge that God had great plans for our children. I knew they needed to go to school; it was just a question of where. God did provide for each of them.

The value of higher education

Maybe you have just not given higher education much thought. It may not have been a priority in your family. Obviously, this is not an issue where God commands all of us to pursue a college degree. However, there may be some things worth considering as to the value of such a pursuit.

As was mentioned before, college or grad school can open up doors to professional careers. Even if not needed, pursuing higher education is never a waste of time, even if you do not use it vocationally.

When I retired from active duty, I still had the desire to get a seminary degree, even though I no longer felt called to vocational ministry. I am extremely grateful I had a second chance to go to school and finish what I had started. It made me a better student of the Bible. More importantly, it opened up opportunities for me to contribute numerous articles as a freelance writer for the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work, and The Gospel Coalition.

If you have not thought seriously about going to school or picking up where you left off in quite a while because you were forced to give up your dream, I strongly encourage you to prayerfully consider this year what the Lord is calling you to do and take positive steps in faith to move in that direction. Even if you are in mid-life, as I was, it will be a blessing to expand your mind. It will inspire your kids.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for nearly 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. One hundred and ten of these have been published or posted over 200 times on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)

God’s Grace Finds Me

Once in a while, a Christian song will pop out through my speakers that grabs my heart and doesn’t let go. I have to write about it. (I have done this a couple of times before; click here and here.)

On the way to an extended family gathering with my siblings before the holidays, I heard the Matt Redman song, “Your Grace Finds Me” come up on Spotify. I was moved to tears several times.

Let me describe what I felt as I heard this biblical and beautiful worship song. I invite you to explore with me what grace means and how God revealed it in His Word and in our experience. (I encourage you to click on the link to the song, watch the video, and listen carefully to the words.)

The message of the song

The artist reminds us that God’s grace is evident everywhere. It is there in a newborn’s cry, when knowing how special God’s gift of a child is. It is seen in a beautiful sunrise, on a mountaintop, and even in the everyday routines of life. God’s grace can be seen in both the light and shadows; in the sorrows and in the dancing, in birth and in death. He sings, “There in the darkest night of the soul, there in the sweetest songs of victory.” These things are all examples of God’s love for us. Knowing the source of these gifts in a personal relationship through faith in Jesus Christ is a gift in itself.

The chorus reminds us that Jesus’s death is the focal point of God’s grace as he sings, “From the creation to the cross; from the cross until eternity. Your grace finds me. Your grace finds me.” From the beginning to the end, and everything in-between, God always gives more to us that we deserve.

In addition to the diverse collection of places and situations where God’s grace can be seen all around us that clearly point to Him, what struck me the most was the reminder that God is the one who took the initiative to make His grace known to every single one of us, saint and sinners alike.

The meaning of God’s great grace

Since the artist uses grace 20-plus times in the song, the meaning of the word may get lost.

When the average person hears the word “grace”, they may automatically think of the prayer of thanks given before a meal is consumed. The key word grace is normally defined as “God giving us more than we deserve”. This is in contrast to with the word mercy, which denotes God not giving us what we do deserve. In a recent sermon I listened to online given by my friend Dr. John Pletcher, he accurately described their connection when he preached, “God’s mercy brings us to God’s grace.”

A helpful mnemonic device to help folks remember the meaning of the word is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. This also helps us to remember the price that was paid by Jesus’s death on the cross so that we could experience all of the blessings that God has in store for His children.

The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology defines grace as “undeserved blessing freely bestowed on humans by God.” Later, we read a much deeper meaning. “Grace always means that it is God who takes the initiative and implies the priority of God’s action on behalf of needy sinners. That is the whole point of grace: it does not start with us, it starts with God; it is not earned or merited by us, it is freely and lovingly given to us who have no resources or deservings of our own.”

This is the clear message of the song. God initiates His blessings so that His lovingkindness can be seen by the unbeliever to draw them to faith. The Apostle Paul indicates in Rom. 2:4 that “God’s kindness leads you toward repentance.” As a sinner saved by grace alone through faith alone, there is nothing I did or ever could do to earn or deserve anything good coming from God.

How has God revealed His grace in His word?

Let me list some of the many ways in which God’s grace shows up in the Bible:

• God chose Abram and made a covenant with him (Gen. 15:18-21)
• God delivered the Israelites from bondage in Egypt (Exo. 14:30-31)
• God led the Israelites to the promised land (Deut. 1:8)
• God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins and rise again (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
• God equipped His church with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
• God called men and women to preach the gospel that we might be saved (Rom. 10:10-15)
• When Jesus returns, His disciples get to spend eternity with Him (1 Thes. 4:17)

God’s grace is consistently seen throughout the OT and NT to demonstrate His lovingkindness towards His chosen people. He is a covenant-making deliverer who culminated His grace with the gift of His Son, Jesus. Faith in Him is the only way to understand and experience God’s grace.

How does God reveal His grace in our experience?

Let me list some of the ways God revealed His grace in my experience, which should be not much different from how He revealed His grace to you in your personal experience. (It is not true because we experience it. We experience it because it has already been revealed to be true.)

• He chose me to be in Christ before the foundation of the world
• He revealed Himself to me through nature, believers, and a clear gospel message
• He has answered specific prayers I have prayed; He has led me by His Spirit; He has fed me with His Holy Word; He has brought me joy in His presence
• He has provided everything I need, above and beyond all I could ask for in terms of my education, a beautiful wife, children, grandchildren, a job, and a home

I know that God’s great grace in Christ will always find us. Let’s praise Him when we see it.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for nearly 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 200 articles on faith and work topics. One hundred and ten of these have been published or posted over 200 times on several Christian organization’s websites, including the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)

Reflections on my 2022 Writing Ministry

This past year of writing was full of many blessings, beyond what I ever could have imagined.  Below, you will see some of ways God demonstrated His faithfulness to me. He opened up doors to expand my audience so that I could teach and encourage Christians in many places. I praise God for His presence with me as I worked diligently to write about His presence at work.   

Articles written and published

By the grace of God, despite moving in the spring, this was a very productive year. In 2022, I wrote 45 articles, four less than what I wrote in 2021. Of these, 28 were on faith and work topics. This yields a total of 198 articles that I wrote in this category. I also wrote 17 articles on other topics, yielding a total of 98 articles. Overall, I have written and posted a total of 296 articles.

Last year, articles I wrote were posted or published a total of 50 times. One of my articles that was published on the IFWE blog made their top ten list for 2022. My biggest supporter was the Christian Grandfather Magazine, which has published 15 articles! After seven years, a total of 109 out of 198 articles (55%) I wrote on faith and work have been posted or published 200 times.

Beyond the statistics, I was happy I was able to knock out several unfinished articles that had been on the back burner for a while. (Ironically, this included an article on procrastination!)

Here are the top ten articles that grabbed my heart so deeply they practically wrote themselves:

1. I Have Known You Since Day One
2. The Irreversible Transformation of all True Disciples of Jesus Christ
3. Milestone Birthday Reflections on the Brevity of Life
4. Reflections on Working in a Job a Long Time
5. Next Slide – How Can We Quickly Reestablish Our Fellowship with God
6. Where do I Find God When I Start a New Job?
7. I Only Did Paperwork for the Navy
8. How Should Christians Respond to the Current Worker Shortage?
9. How Much Time Should I Spend Developing Relationships at Work?
10. Seeing God Guide and Provide When Looking for a Home

Also, there were four articles I wrote this past year that I did not post on my blog. They were written specifically for The Gospel Coalition and the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work:

• How Do I Handle a Job That Requires Overtime?
• Encouragement for New Graduates on God’s Presence in Your Vocational Journey
• Biblical Principles for New Managers
• A Fresh Approach to Team Building

Podcasts and interviews

I was somewhat disappointed that I was not able to participate in any podcasts last year. I did sit down for an interview in the fall, but I have not seen it posted yet. I did do a radio interview with Moody Radio the day after Labor Day. This opportunity was made possible because of an article I wrote on the book of Nehemiah that was posted on The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics.

Upcoming projects and goals

Here are some of the things I want to focus on in 2023:

• Write and post 30 articles on faith and work and 15 on other topics of interest
• Complete most of my list of two dozen unfinished article ideas on faith and work topics
• Complete most of my list of twenty unfinished article ideas on other topics
• Seek opportunities to share my message with chaplains, leaders, and Soldiers
• Put myself out there: send out requests to do podcast, radio, and blog interviews
• Read several books and reflect on what I have read and learned

I solicit the prayers of my brothers and sisters in Christ, regarding these goals.

Closing thoughts

I continue to be humbled at the growing number of family, friends, colleagues, and organizations around the world who have consistently responded to my posts, read my articles, shared them with others, connected with me via social media, and encouraged me throughout the past year.

My intent is to put the spotlight on God, not on me. It’s not about Russ; it’s about us. I want my readers to understand God’s truth for themselves as I share relevant Scriptures. I want them to see that the practical theology about faith and work can be life changing. I believe that I am called to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ and to help them see how God is present in their work every day. To that end, I know my labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).

Keep on reading and applying God’s truths in all areas of your life, not just at work.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 42 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is passionate about helping people with ordinary jobs experience God’s presence at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and has worked for nearly 15 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written 200 articles on faith and work topics. One hundred and ten of these have been published on several Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)