Theology @ Work – Blessed to Be a Blessing

Many of us feel enormously blessed by our relationships, by what we have, by God Himself. But why have we received such blessings?

The first few chapters of Genesis provide a foundation for all of the rest of Scripture, from creation of the universe, to creation of humankind in God’s image, to our calling to partner with God in Creation. This is followed by three examples of evil in the world, a consequence of God’s decision to give us free will: our rebellion in Genesis 3; then our wickedness in chapters 6-7 (leading to the Flood); and then our arrogance in chapter 11 (the tower of Babel).

But then, in a startling and pivotal few verses, we see God’s answer to the problem of evil. Rather than wiping everything out and starting again (as Genesis 6:6-7 suggests He was sorely tempted to do), God decides to use the flawed people He had made to gradually and eventually bring Creation back to a glorious version of what it was originally intended to be (ultimately described in Revelation 21-22).

Genesis 12 starts like this (emphasis mine) The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." This promise and call to Abraham (the combination of promise and call is typically called a covenant) is the foundation for the whole of the rest of the Bible. God blesses Abraham so that Abraham will in turn bless those around him. The people of Israel, God’s chosen people, are blessed enormously with the same intent – that they will spread God’s blessing to those countries and peoples that surround them. The Church is blessed through Christ so that we can bless all around us.

We, as workers, are blessed by God quite simply so that those around us will be blessed. In our call to the workplace, we are called to share and spread God’s blessing – His grace, love, peace, compassion, provision, forgiveness, value – without limit, without exception. This is how we partner with God in restoring His Kingdom. Israel largely failed to recognize this call and to live it. The Church has often lost sight of it. How about us?