What does 'doing God's work' mean?

Answer 1

Jesus did God's work while he was here on earth so Jesus is the model we are to follow in figuring this question out.

Jesus says in Matthew 20:28:

"Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

So we do God's work by serving others.

But there are instances in The Bible where Jesus clearly states what we are to do as Christians: The last thing he said to the disciples was (Matthew 28:19-20):

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

So if you consider yourself a Christian, this is not an option. God says that He will hold us accountable for them (Ezekiel 3:18):

"When I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for[b] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood."

So the most obvious way to do be doing God's work is by sharing the gospel.

But serving means just to help in anyway. Jesus says in Matthew 10:42: "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward"

So if you see or know someone in need in your life or as you pass by, stop and help. Think what Jesus would do in that circumstance and do as he would do. Everything significant that he did was written about in the New Testament so start with Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

But there are many more things that God wants that he explicitly mentions in the Bible so to fully know everything He wants you to do begins with reading the entire Bible. But to actually put it into practice in your life specifically, you have to pray first. Pray by asking God to help you understand what He wants you to do and how to do them.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Matthew 7:7

If you make this your daily prayer and as long as you have a willing heart, I can promise you that He will begin revealing what He wants you to do. Sometimes it may not make sense but keep reading and praying and you will begin to understand why also. (Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." )

There are many difficult things that we as Christians are asked to do but remember that we will receive blessings here on earth and in Heaven.

James 1:22-25

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.