Working for God: A 31-Day Study

by Andrew Murray

"Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you."
And they went. – Matthew 20:4


The first objective of this book is to remind all Christian workers of the greatness and the glory of the work in which God gives a share. As we see that it is God’s own work that we have to work out, and that in our working, His glory rests on us and we glorify Him, then we shall count it our joy to live only and wholly for His work.


The purpose of this book at the same time is to help those who complain, or perhaps do not even know enough to complain, that they are apparently laboring in vain, by helping them discover what may be the cause of so much failure. God’s work must be done in God’s way and in God’s power. It is spiritual work to be done by spiritual men in the power of the Spirit. The clearer our submission to God’s laws of work, the surer and richer our joy and reward in it will be.


Follows Waiting on God, also by Andrew Murray

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Devotional, Nonfiction, Christianity, Christian Non Fiction, Religion

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Murray was Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Murray became a noted missionary leader. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian serving the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa, and his mother had connections with both French Huguenots and German Lutherans. This background to some extent explains his ecumenical spirit. He was educated at Aberdeen University, Scotland, and at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. After ordination in 1848 he served pastorates at Bloemfontein, Worcester, Cape Town, and Wellington. He helped to found what are now the University College of the Orange Free State and the Stellenbosch Seminary. He served as Moderator of the Cape Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church and was president of both the YMCA (1865) and the South Africa General Mission (1888-1917), now the Africa Evangelical Fellowship.

He was one of the chief promoters of the call to missions in South Africa. This led to the Dutch Reformed Church missions to blacks in the Transvaal and Malawi. Apart from his evangelistic tours in South Africa, he spoke at the Keswick and Northfield Conventions in 1895, making a great impression. upon his British and American audiences. For his contribution to world missions he was given an honorary doctorate by the universities of Aberdeen (1898) and Cape of Good Hope(1907).

Murray is best known today for his devotional writings, which place great emphasis on the need for a rich, personal devotional life. Many of his 240 publications explain in how he saw this devotion and its outworking in the life of the Christian. Several of his books have become devotional classics. Among these are Abide in Christ, Absolute Surrender, With Christ in the School of Prayer, The Spirit of Christ and Waiting on God.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book in this trilogy, “Waiting On God,” included a word study on “waiting,” with each chapter studying a verse that contained the word “wait,” or a synonym. Likewise, this second book, “Working For God,” included a word study on “work,” with each chapter studying a verse about our working for God.

I usually enjoy reading Andrew Murray’s works, but it took me awhile to get into this book for two reasons, neither of which really have to do with the book itself. First, I couldn’t seem to separate in my mind, Andrew Murray’s Biblical teachings on work from those erroneous ones I had been taught at my prior church. It was hard to read the word “work” and not think of what they meant by it.

Imagine this. You have been treated with kindness and generosity by someone in a church, to have them say, “God loves you even more than we do.” Or, after having been given something delectable, you then see the passage, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” (Psalm 34:8), and realize that God Himself is even better than whatever you’ve been given. It’s like those ads on TV, showing the benefits of some product, and then the announcer saying, “But wait, there’s more …” There’s a big, “But wait, there’s more …” in that God Himself, and the eternal life that He gives far surpasses any earthly gift.

I realize that two things can go wrong with this analogy: when what the church has given is a poor shadow, a poor representation, of what God offers. And that can hurt to give wrong first impressions. That’s not my problem with our former church. They really did try to give and do things well, with generosity – and did it beautifully.

They had the second problem, in that the main focus, the crown jewel gift, got lost in the wrapping paper. It was beautiful, kind-hearted wrapping paper, to be sure, very attractive. But there was nothing inside, no gift of any meaning, except the wrapping paper itself. There was no “Wait, there’s more …” with them, no deeper gift, no deep meaning to anything. It is a good thing to give to someone in need, but they had forgotten why we give … because God loves them. He loved them, created them, and even died for them. But this church had forgotten that and began to give just to give, just for something good to do, I think. Or possibly for good PR. I heard that mentioned a few times. But there was no longer any depth to it, any message.

I know that some people will object to having a deeper gift within the wrapping paper. They don’t have to accept it now. They can think it over, and still feel beloved by God in the meantime. Some people would go so far as to say the church had an ulterior motive in giving what they did, and that was to slip some “Jesus-talk” in there. But Jesus really is the main gift, and they still are loved by God, whatever they choose.

Or think of this. You’ve probably heard the saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Well, while you’re feeding him and teaching him, there is a gift that lasts even longer than a lifetime. Stopping short of offering that eternal gift doesn’t really do much for him in the long-term. He’s still in trouble without God’s gift of forgiveness.

I do understand that sometimes the troubles of this life can overshadow someone’s view of the next, that people can’t really hear the important stuff while their stomachs are empty. So there is a balance here. Both are expressions of love; both are needed, caring about the person here and now, and caring about the person’s eternity. But they should go together.

I can't really poke on this too much, because I don't always share my faith when I show a kindness, either. It's far easier to give, or even to volunteer, than it is to find the right words for the most important things. Sometimes when I give, I hope that someone else comes along with the words, and sometimes I think that may not happen. The responsibility is mine. And one that I often fail.

I also realize that when kindnesses become habitual, we don't always verbalize the invitation well, or it may not be appropriate timing to do so. But the invitation is there, should the question arise. And I have found that the question does arise:

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience ..." 1 Peter 3:15-16, NIV

Or there can be even worse misrepresentations of good works, in that some people not only have forgotten that they contain a very priceless gift within, an offer to come to Jesus, but they think that they can earn heaven through good works. You can’t. Heaven, like forgiveness, is a gift.

Here is Andrew Murray's reasoning for sharing the faith with words, not just with kindnesses: “As Christ’s doing good to men’s bodies ever aimed at winning their souls, all our ministry of love must be subordinated to that which is God’s great purpose and longing – the salvation unto life eternal.”

I found a verse on the purpose of God's kindnesses, which seems to corroborate Andrew Murray's thinking: "Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" - Romans 2:4, ESV. God's kindness is not just for the sake of kindness. It is meant to lead us back towards Himself. When we sin, we are moving away from Him, and His kindness is meant to turn us around.

Here is how Andrew Murray defines the “work” in his “Working For God”:

“It is nothing less than that work of bringing men back to God.”

“What a high and holy place is given to our good works. What power is attributed to them. How much depends on them. They are not only the light and health and joy of our own life, but in every deed the means of bringing lost souls out of darkness into God’s marvelous light.”

“Nothing else, nothing less than telling others of the risen Lord, and proving to them what new life Christ has brought to us. As we indeed know and acknowledge Him as Lord over all we are, and live in the joy of His service, we shall see that the work of the Lord is but one work that of winning men to know and bow to Him.”

“The work of saving souls is God’s own work, none but He can do it.”

“Even when we can at first do no more than reach and help their bodies, our aim is the soul.”

It was still hard for me to read this book and remember in each chapter that Andrew Murray wasn’t referring to the wrapping paper, but the valuable gift within, because I’d heard so much of “random acts of kindness” or just doing good works because they were good.

The second reason that it was hard for me to read this book, I’m a little more reluctant to say. It’s because sometimes I feel, as we all do in this generation, that we already do so much that we are tired, that we can’t add another thing to our schedules.

In the end, though, I decided to take Andrew Murray’s book as encouragement on what little I am already involved in doing. As such, it was beautiful. I don’t think I’d ever seen so many verses on “working” compiled together before, although some were familiar.

I’ll list my favorite verses from Murray’s collection, and then end with some of Murray’s own quotes on the matter.

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength… Neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, which worketh for him that waiteth for Him.” – Isaiah 40:31, 64:4

“Ye are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14,16

“Son, go to work today in my vineyard.” – Matthew 21:28

“My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to accomplish His work. I must work the works of Him that sent Me. I have glorified Thee on the earth; I have finished the work Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me with Thyself.” – John 5:34, 9:4, 17:4

“The words that I speak not of Myself: but the Father abiding in Me doeth the work.” – John 14:10

“By grace have ye been saved through faith; not of works, lest any man should glory. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10

“… for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to work, for His good pleasure.” – Philippains 2:13

“In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love. Through love be servants one to another; for the whole law is fulfilled in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbors as thyself.” – Galatians 5:6,13

“To walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God: strengthened with all power, according to the might of His glory, unto all patience.” – Colossians 1:10

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

“And God is able to make all grace abound unto you, that ye may abound unto every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

“That we may grow up in all things into Him, which is the Head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint together supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, making the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.” – Ephesians 4:15-16

“Let women adorn themselves … through good works.” – 1 Timothy 2:10

“Charge them that are rich in the present world, that they do good, that they be rich in good works …” – 1 Timothy 6:18

“If a man therefore cleanse himself from them [sins], he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the Master’s use, prepared unto every good work.” – 2 Timothy 2:21

“Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15

“Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify us for Himself, a people of His own, zealous of good works.” – Titus 2:14

“Put them in mind to be ready for every good work.” – Titus 3:1

“And these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.” – Titus 3:8, 14

“We are God’s fellow-workers; ye are God’s building.” – 1 Corinthians 3:9

“And working together with Him we entreat that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” – 2 Corinthians 6:1

“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. He that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth, but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in doing.” – James 1:22, 25

“I know thy works” – Revelation 2:1, 2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 18, 19; 3:1, 2, 7, 8, 14, 15

Andrew Murray quotes:

“God’s work must be done in God’s way and in God’s power.”

“As waiting on God lies at the root of all true working for God, so working for God must be the fruit of all true waiting on Him.”

“The works prepare the way for the words.”

“Perishing men around you need your light, if they are to find their way to God.”

“As truly as a candle only exists with the object of giving light in the darkness, the one object of your existence is to be a light to men.”

“There may be much earnestness and diligence, with little that lasts for eternity.”

“How great the temptation is to make work a matter of thought and prayer and purpose, without its really being done. It is easier to bear than to think, easier to think that to speak, easier to speak than to act. We may listen and accept and admire God’s will, and in our prayer confess our willingness to do – and yet not actually do.”

“As worthless as are our works in procuring salvation, so infinite is their worth as that for which God has created and prepared us.”

“The work of leading young souls to Christ is too high for us indeed, but if we live as little children in believing that God will work all in us, we shall do His work in His strength.”

“It is love that gives us the patience that refuses to give up the unthankful or the hardened. It is love that reaches and overcomes the most hopeless.”

“Whatever work for God you try to do, seek to put love into it.”

“The work is often difficult and slow, and apparently fruitless. We are apt to lose heart, because we are working in our strength and judging by our expectations.”

“Work in our own strength, with little prayer and waiting on God for His spirit, is the cause of failure.”

“All around you there are Christians who are cold and worldly and wandering from their Lord. Think about what you can do for them.”

“The sense of being a servant … maintains that unbroken dependence, that quiet faith, through which the Lord can do His work. It keeps up that blessed consciousness of the work being all His.”

“One of the first things that awakens zeal in work is a great and urgent sense of need.”

“However insignificant they [good works] appear, do them. A kind word, a little help to someone in trouble, an act of loving attention to a stranger or a poor man, the sacrifice of a seat or a place to some one who longs for it – practice these things.”

“Without actions, intentions lower and condemn a man instead of raising him.”

“… a childlike teachableness, a continual looking upward and waiting on God, is ever to be the chief mark of one who is His fellow-laborer.”

“God’s work can only be done in God’s strength.”

“It is possible to delight in hearing, to be diligent in increasing our knowledge of God’s word, to admire and approve the truth, even to be willing to do it, and yet fail entirely in the actual performance.”

“It is only when conviction translates into conduct that we have proof that the truth is mastering us.”

“Is there not more than one Christian around me wandering from the way, needing loving help and not unwilling to receive it? Are there not some whom I could take by the hand, and encourage to begin again? Are there not many who have never been in the right way, for some of whom Christ Jesus would use me, if I were truly at His disposal?”

[Matthew Imbody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical and Insightful!

I love reading Andrew Murray's work. His writings are full of both practical instruction and spiritual insight. This book, Working for God, takes the reader on a journey from working for God in our own strength, to the truth of working for Him by His direction,, In His strength, and through the Grace that only Be provides. We see that the work is not ours to do, but God's work, to do through us -- His work, In His power, by His hand. We are just the vessels He chooses to use to show His love, mercy, grace, and righteousness -- and then, to God be all the glory! Amen!

[Julie MacKay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It is very inspiring and encouraging if you are serving God in ministry in any way. Sometimes the same point was repeated in different chapters, but it served to drive the message home really. One of the big points is that we need to do the work in God’s strength, not our own, and we need to have faith that God will work through us and use his strength in our weaknesses. It is a good read and there were several parts that I highlighted (electronically in the ebook!) as being particularly helpful.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really helpful reflections on scriptures exploring what it means to work for God, how faith and prayer and self-denial and walking in the spirit are all necessary in this work, and so much more. Divided into 31 chapters of a suitable length for daily devotions. I have been challenged and strengthened in my ministry by this book and will probably reread it annually.

[Lisa Chirico · Rating 5 out of 5]

So detailed and insightful!

Highly recommend this to any believer who wants to get more focused on what life is about. Set up in daily devotion style and the chapters are “easy” to read although so deep they cause you to stop and reflect/pray often.

[Vondetta Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read by a fabulous author..

[Aslynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrew Murray is one of my all-time favorite authors and this book certainly doesn't disappoint. I recommend it to anyone looking for encouragement in their Christian faith.

[Charlene Hios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a 5 Star Read

I've never read an Andrew Murray book that God didn't use to speak to me quite deeply. Amazing how words written from 1845-1915 speak so clearly to us today.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book on work.

I quite enjoyed the messages in it, and found it fairly encouraging.

Another book I would recommend!

4.0/5

[Silviana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A daily read

A keeper - one to read every month to be reminded the reason why we were created. By Him, for Him, to do all things through Him & His strength alone!

[Allen Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

More traditional approach to the topic but the humility of the approach was useful.

[Ole Madsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Andrew Murray, good message

[Andy Febrico Bintoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

You could read this book for free on Google Play Books provided by Aneko Press.

This is yet another short book by Andrew Murray, in the format of devotional. This book could be a compliment for the book "Waiting on God".

[Michael]

A good daily devotion!

I may not agree with everything Murray had written about but this was a good devotional to read for a month. I recommend this book!