Working for the Weekend:: Brad O'Brien

Guest Blog :: Brad O'Brien

Working for the Weekend... When this classy anti-work anthem was released by the rock band “Loverboy” in the greatest decade of music ever, I was a three year-old. Now I am pushing 30, but nothing has changed in the way most people view work. Dolly Parton made it clear that she was only working from “9 to 5”, but something tells me it would have at least taken that long to do her hair and make-up. If you aren’t careful living a life of unfulfilled work in cubicleville can make you want to lead your co-workers in a chorus of “take this job and shove it”.

What is it that makes so many people dissatisfied with their jobs? Work was around before the fall, but many people think that work was a result of the fall. In Genesis 2:15 scripture says “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (ESV) God intended for us to work prior to the fall and it was a way that we would worship Him. After the fall of man, God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden and they were to work, but now the task would prove to be difficult. God’s desire is for us to work in such a way that it glorifies Him. It doesn’t matter what your “job” is. We are all in ministry together. The only way to fight dissatisfaction with your job is to work on connecting your job to the Kingdom.

One of our friends and an amazing pastor, Mark Driscoll, preached a message on this topic back in September. Just the other night while I was logging my 30 minutes of cardio on the stationary bike at the gym (gyms are another result of the fall), I listened to Mark’s message. You can find the audio and video to that message here.

Pastor J.D. and I have both recently been presented with a new model for doing community development. This model has been created and put into practice at Northwood Church in Keller, TX. Pastor Bob and Omar are new friends to us and we are grateful for our relationship with them. The model that they have created identifies several domains within society. Their premise is that the “gates of hell” have prevailed in all of those domains. (Medical, Educational, Family, Governance, Justice, Economics, Art & Communication, Science & Technology, and Agriculture) If we are going to engage our society in a way that brings about transformation and development, we have to permeate each domain with the power of the Gospel. This is where it really gets exciting.

On any given Sunday morning there are well over 2,000 people worshiping at one of our campuses. Each and every one of those 2,000+ people fit into one of these domains. Now... the question is: how can you use your vocation/passion to permeate your domain with the Gospel here locally and globally? I am currently working on different ways for us to encourage and equip you to “do the work of the ministry” in each of these domains, but I am a pastor... what do I know about work? I would love to have your help with this effort.

Action Steps:
1) If you are passionate about connecting with other people in your domain at the Summit and assisting us in mobilizing your domain for community development here in Durham and around the world, please let me know by posting a comment to this blog.

2) If you are a business owner and you would be interested in partnering with us to be a blessing to your office then we need you to post a comment to this blog and we will work together on finding ways to encourage and equip you to begin the process of permeating your workplace with the Gospel.

If you thought that the most exciting times to be at the Summit were in the past then I am going to challenge you to think again. Please continue to pray for your pastors as God is doing some amazing things and has some amazing new adventures on our horizon!