Paycheck
work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12 ESV
Work – Anyone who knows a little about the study of motion and work is familiar with this Greek word. It is ergon (noun) and ergazomai (verb). We get ergonomics from this root. In the Greek culture, it covered an extremely wide range of occupations, trades, skills and activities. The Greeks were a people dominated by a “work ethic” (doesn’t that sound familiar). One of their greatest poets coined the phrase “known by their works.” We carry the same orientation today when we use the formula greeting, “What do you do?” We are simply suggesting that people are measured by their work.
For the Hebrews, “work” is a word that is ultimately about God. God is a God of activity. He is known by His work. Of course, this begins with Creation. God’s handiwork is seen in every aspect of creation. But God is not limited to a Newtonian view of the universe – a God who set everything in motion and then walked away. God is at work in every moment and every detail of His Creation. God is continuously involved in the history of this world, in judgment, redemption, direction and eventually restoration. Yeshua confirmed this view of God when He said, “My Father is working even now” (John 5:17). In the New Testament, the work of a believer is always ultimately an expression of the activity of God. This means that no matter what trade, occupation, skill or activity you name in answer to the question, “What do you do?”, the believer understands that his or her activity is first and foremost service to God. Since work is an extension of the active God, there is no discrepancy between “faith” and “works.” One is simply a reflection of the other. Work is the Hebrew avodah, the harmony of partnered effort, service and worship. By the way, if you are involved in toil, then you know that what you do isn’t work because it isn’t the serendipity of worship of the King, blessing others and care for the creation. Toil is drudgery.
Work is serious business. Your work is God’s calling to you to demonstrate His sovereignty in your life, His character in your actions, His holiness in your choices. So, work it out carefully. There is a lot more at stake than a paycheck.
Once you’ve determined to work out your own salvation with care and concern, you’re ready to read the second part of this verse. Your work is God’s work too.
Topical Index: work, ergon, ergazomai, avodah, salvation, Philippians 2:12
Oh how I would love to “comment” on this one dear brothers! Yes!- What do you do?
Indeed (in deed?) we have “missed the mark”..- our work has become our “worship.” The Puritan work ethic?- gone bonkers… Work-work-work from dawn till setting sun- labor intensively and then work some more.. Work your fingers to the bone and what do you get? Toil, labor- sweat- bring it!- and then work some more.. climb that mountain- go to school.. get all you can, can all you get- sit on the lid and poison the rest! – What do you do Dr.? Professor? Senator?- Are you “worthy” of my respect? The PhD..- Phenomenal dud- ever “learning” and never coming to the knowledge of the Truth.. What are our “universities” teaching? -and what dear friends does our Teacher (have we forgotten the Ruach HaKodesh?) teach?- Are they the same thing? Do these have the same goals or purpose in mind? Do we (hello we..) study the scriptures? -as the word of our LORD instructs us to do?- or are we (Hello?) “too busy”- trying to make a living making bricks from straw?
Do you (yes, you) understand- do you know “except the LORD build the house- they labor in vain who build it? Do you know- have you been instructed from the finest universities in our fair land- “for other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid- which is.. Jesus Christ?”
Educate a fool and guess what you get..- Voyo-La..-an educated fool..- of which this country in which I live has no shortage of. Yes, G-d help us.. amen.
I offer hope for I offer one word today and only one.. Please, may we learn this word? How wonderful it will be to the painter, pirate, plumber and poet..- folks just like me who labor and are ‘heavy laden..” It is the (hello) Hebrew (yes, brother Skip!) word: “AVAD.” Avad ADONAI.. Get a tat-people. Tatoo this on your forehead (if necessary). Let this be your mantra- all day long. Avad ADONAI!!.
I hope, by now.. some of us are grinning.. -not grimacing! For “avad” is to worship. It is also (way to go Hebrew!) to love!. (But wait..-there’s more!) It is also to serve.. (hello fellow-servants!). And.. it is to labor or work. Yes, there is no cheap-easy-lazy way to avad ADONAI. Remember our instructions? “Whatever your hand finds to do..- do it with your might?” Labor intensively in whatever you do, but all of us serve (avad) the LORD Jesus-(who is the) Christ. Whether “you” are a pirate, a poet, a plumber or a painter..- “you” do serve (avad) the LORD Christ.. And dear friend.. Our first priority.. is to love (avad again?) the LORD your Elohim with “all” your heart-soul-mind and strength.. With every nerve and fiber of our being- for we (all) serve (avad again?) the LORD.
We serve the LORD by serving others. We avad ADONAI by “avad”-ing (not avoiding!) our neighbor. – Today.. “How may I serve (avad) you?” We love (avad) the LORD our Elohim by loving others. And Who, dear friend, was the most “other” minded Man ever to have lived? Have you “discovered” the joy to be found in the most humble service to our King? “Try it..- you’ll like it..” We were (absolutely-positively) made (dear fellow-slave) for worship. All glory and praise shall rest upon Him.. so willing to die in my place..
Don’t “whistle” while you work… Worship! Give unto the LORD the glory due His Name! Avad ADONAI!!
And then, (and only then..) the most menial task will become a “delight!” ~ I delight to do your will ADONAI..~ It is with joy I do this.. It is with joy I serve the LORD of lords.. It is with joy I serve the KING of kings.. It is with joy I avad my neighbor.. Duty? Drudgery? -or Delight?
Friends.. hear the instructions of the Master.. “serve (yes, avad) the LORD with gladness..” Avad. Avad and adore ADONAI. Amein.
“We are simply suggesting that people are measured by their work.”
Philippians 2:12 is all about the three “P” philosophy: PEOPLE, PROCESS, AND PRODUCT
The key to increasing the chances of success on spiritual projects is to maintain the proper relationships among people, process, and product — the three “Ps.”
AND THE MEANS TO THE END: 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. THANK GOD HE WORKS IN US BOTH TO WILL & TO DO HIS GOOD PLEASURE… ♥
THERE IS SO MUCH MEAT IN THIS WHOLE CHAPTER – NOT JUST 1 OR 2 VERSES:
Philippians 2
New King James Version (NKJV)
Unity Through Humility
2 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
The Humbled and Exalted Christ
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Light Bearers
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy Commended
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
Epaphroditus Praised
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
Hi Jan
Thanks for sharing the passages above
Reading them this morning I remembered how beautifully they were written
“30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.”
MICHAEL, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT – WASN’T IT YOU LAST YEAR THAT SPOKE NEGATIVELY ABOUT TIMOTHY??? I THINK IT WAS… 🙁 HAS YOU VIEWPOINT CHANGED ANY – THIS YEAR???
“Philippians 2:30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.”
WASN’T IT YOU LAST YEAR THAT SPOKE NEGATIVELY ABOUT TIMOTHY??? I THINK IT WAS – HAS YOU VIEWPOINT CHANGED ANY – THIS YEAR???
Hi Jan,
My view of Timothy has changed this year but I don’t recall speaking “negatively” of him
I probably mentioned the The First Paul, by John Dominic Crossan and Marcus Borg
In which they argue that Paul probably did not write Timothy 1 and 2
And my comment above, if I’m not mistaken, came from 30 Philippians rather than Timothy
In any case, I’ve learned a lot about Paul from Skip over the years and have a much greater appreciation of Paul’s work than I did before reading Skip’s work on Paul 🙂
My favorite:
“…the believer understands that his or her activity is first and foremost service to God.”
If I could only latch onto this more effectively, I might not feel like a hampster on a wheel so much.