Generally if someone says they are working for another person, we can assume one of two things. Either they are working with the expectation of some reward for their efforts, or they are working to pay off a debt owed to the other person.
If that's the case, what are we to make of phrases such as "he's working for God" or "she's doing God's work"? If we're working for God in the hope of some reward, we've missed the whole idea of grace. Everything we need has already been freely provided in Christ. We don't need to earn it. And God owes us nothing. What can we possibly do that would make God indebted to us?
On the other hand, if we're working for God with the idea of "repaying our debts" to him, we've again misunderstood grace. We don't owe God anything except to love him and delight in what he has done for us. Good parents don't give gifts expecting their children to repay them in some way. Neither does God.
Christians who speak of 'working for God' tend to fall into the second error more often than the first. How many times have you heard "Since God has done so much for you, you should show your gratitude by working for his glory" or some similar sentiment? Sometimes it's a subtle call to dishonour the giver by offering payment for the gift.
I'm not suggesting that we should just take what God offers and go on our selfish way. Over and over we are called to labour and work with our best effort. But I think the New Testament emphasis is on 'working with God' rather than 'working for God.'
Having absorbed the amazing truth that through Christ we are now God's children, filled and empowered by his Spirit, and free of all debts except the debt to love, we are ready to co-operate with him in the work he is doing. We are sons and daughters working alongside our Father, learning from him to follow the family business. Where he succeeds, we share his success, but not vice versa.
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