I have seen a few posts on social media from Christian leaders castigating men who “sit at home and watch TV all day”. Moreover, they use 2 Thessalonians 3:10 to justify their stance.
The more we say to Christian men that their worth and identity is in their employment status, the more we will see depression, anger, bitterness, hopelessness, and even suicide numbers rise among Christian men.
If a Christian man’s worth and identity are his job and work, then the Christian man is no different from a non-Christian man since a non-Christian man says, “I am my job or work”.
When God created Adam and gave him work to do, he did not say to Adam, “Here is your work, this is who you are”. Instead, the Bible says, God created male and female in his image and then gave them work. Here we see that identity preceded function.
The danger of pushing the narrative of “work is identity” produces two types of men. One type becomes proud and self-righteous. The other type is riddled with guilt and condemnation. When the former loses his job or the ability to make a living, he slides into guilt and condemnation. The latter, when he gets a job, he gets puffed up with pride. Do you notice the pieces of the shifting puzzle?
If a Christian man’s worth and identity are his job and work, then the Christian man is no different from a non-Christian man since a non-Christian man says, “I am my job or work”.
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The Christian man has to hear something different – That their worth and identity is found in what Jesus has done for them – the gospel of grace. Something more significant than a job.
The beautiful thing about what Jesus has done is that it is not affected by a temporary setback or even laziness. It is solid, anchored and unmovable. When Christian men repeatedly hear what Jesus has done for them, it does amazing things in them.
For one, they develop the courage, fortitude to withstand tough times.
Second, it opens up the tap of creativity. Guilt and condemnation are the blockers of creativity and ingenuity in Christian men. When Christian men receive grace and the guilt and condemnation melt away like butter on a hot pan, and ideas start bubbling to the surface. When a Christian man thought he could only do this or that, he starts becoming creative. He thinks outside the box. He sees possibilities.
The Christian man has to hear something different – That their worth and identity is found in what Jesus has done for them – the gospel of grace. Something more significant than a job.
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Hey Christian man, be encouraged you are not your job or lack of it. You are a beloved son of God. Rest in that identity. Rest in what jesus has done for you.
That’s what grace looks like.
Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash
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