70% of our weeks are taken up by it. 30% of our lives will be spent doing it. And 100% of us could use a better attitude towards it. I’m talking about work.
My attitude started to shift once I realized the reality of what work really was for a Christian. It’s not just about putting food on the table, paying bills, or pursuing success, but rather work is a God glorifying act of service and sanctification. In this article I want to offer you a biblical perspective on work that will help you navigate through the ups and downs of the daily grind.
Work is glorifying to God
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:21
God created us in His image, and with that came our mandate to work. Genesis 2:15 says God created Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it. That means work was instituted by God before sin entered the world. Sin simply brought with it the curse that caused work to be more strenuos, and the earth to be less yielding. Work is not a result of the fall, but rather a result of the image of God being stamped on us.
Whether we work a 9 to 5, study as a full time student, or work our butts off as a stay at home parent, we are all called to work. It’s one of the things we were made to do. Its easy to understand it theologically, but harder to apply practically. So what are ways we glorify God in the work we do?
- We glorify God through our work ethic– God is not lazy, so we shouldn’t be either. One way we glorify God is by having a good work ethic. This means having self control, getting things done in a timely manner, and being willing to go the extra mile.
- We glorify God through our work attitude– I believe the posture of our heart is one of the main factors that determines whether our work glorifies God or not. That’s why its possible for a grateful janitor to glorify God more than an ungrateful pastor. Its not just about what we do, but how we do it. Never underestimate the power a positive attitude has to impact others and open doors for evangelism.
- We glorify God through our work quality– As Christians we should do quality work. That means not cutting corners or being sloppy in what we do. We should strive for excellence. We should desire to bless those we work for and around through a job well done.
- We glorify God through our work witness– Seeing as that we spend a third of our lives at work, we should seek to shine the light of Christ while we’re there. We should trust that God has sovereignly placed us in a position and calling to be a godly influence on those around us. We are called to spread the fragrance of Christ wherever we go, which means living out the gospel and sharing it with others.
Those are just a few ways we glorify God in our work. I encourage you to reflect on these questions to see how you’re doing in these areas.
Do you have a good work ethic? Are you someone others can depend on and trust to show up on time and get the job done? Or do you drag your feet and put things off?
Do you have a good attitude? Are you someone who others like to be around? Are you grateful for the work God has called you to do, or are you always finding things to complain about?
Do you have a good work quality? Are you someone who takes pride in the work you do? Do you see the honor and privilege in working, or do you give only half the effort and don’t care how it turns out?
Do you have a good witness? Are you someone who looks for ways to share Jesus with others and be a godly influence? Are you mindful of the fact your actions and words impact others? Or do you separate your Christian life from your work life and live two different lives?
Work is a service
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace..” – 1 Peter 4:10
- A service for God– Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”. This means that first and foremost work is a service for the Lord. Our duty to God supersedes our duty to man. The problem is we don’t always view it that way. The fact that Paul had to instruct the church at Colossae to work heartily tells me there’s a very real temptation to do otherwise. Our sinful nature causes us to drift towards entitlement, selfishness, and pride. Its easy to think we are too good for the work God has called us to do. We must humble our hearts and align our thinking with what the bible says about work. No matter how mundane the task may be, it becomes sacred when done for the glory and service of God.
- A service for those we work for- Not only do we serve God through our work, but also those we work for. As Christians we should desire to be a blessing to our employers, even if we don’t particularly like them or get to see them often. God has allowed them success in business which in turn has become a blessing to you. Don’t lose sight of that. What you do for them matters. You may not think you’re making a difference, but the quality of your work not only helps your employer but also influences those you work around to do the same. Your service can have a ripple effect that goes out and up.
- A service to those we work with-The way we work influences others. We’ve all been around the person at work who is always miserable and complaining about something. Not only does it bring you down, but it encourages you to join in and complain with them. Complaining is contagious. On the flip side, we’ve also all worked with the person who is always giving their best effort and doesn’t let things get them down or stress them out. Being around them inspires us to work a little harder and lifts our spirits. Good work ethic and good attitudes are contagious as well.
Which of the two people would you rather be around at work? Who would you rather be? Working hard and having a grateful heart will help you serve your coworkers. You’ll be able to bless others simply by working hard and being a joy to be around.
We also can serve those we work around by helping them with their tasks, being willing to show them what we know, and giving them respect and kindness. All of these things can have big impacts on those we work around. Remember, Jesus defined greatness as serving others. Are you being a great worker?
Work is sanctifying
Work is a God glorifying act of service, but also of sanctification. This is the process the Potter uses to mold and shape us.
Sanctification is one of those old words we don’t use much anymore. You may hear someone talk about the sanctity of marriage, but unless you’ve got a wide theological vocabulary, it’s probably not a word you’re all that familiar with.
Sanctification means to set something apart for a special use. Its the process of making something holy. For example, in the Old Covenant God required everything used in the tabernacle, including the priest, to be sanctified for use in the worship and sacrifices. God required holiness in the objects used and the people participating.
Under the new covenant our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and God likewise calls for us to be holy. Just take a look at 1 Peter 1:15-16 which says, “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, Since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
So now that we’ve defined our terms, how exactly does work sanctify us? Ill go out on a limb and say that most of us don’t view work as a sanctifying tool in the hands of God. At best we see work as a blessing from God that allows us to provide for our families, at worst we see it as a necessary evil that’s totally disconnected from our spiritual lives.
As Christians we should all want to be more Christlike, so let’s talk about the ways God uses to sanctify us at work. Although there are many specific things, I would argue they all fall under one of two general categories: the situations we face and the people we’re around.
- By the situations we face
God uses situations to sanctify us, and they aren’t always pretty. Let’s call it situational sanctification. Just as diamonds are formed by heat and pressure, we too gain our holy glimmer through the heated pressures of life.
It shouldn’t take long for you to conjure up a list of stressful situations you might face at work on any given day. Without even giving it much though I can list off 10 things that can become stressers:
- Getting a new job
- Learning a new job function
- Being understaffed
- Dealing with policy changes
- Having to multitask
- Making tight deadlines
- Being around difficult people
- Politics and drama on the job
- Difficult physical labor
- Difficult mental labor
I’m sure you can add to the list, and I would encourage you to do. Take a moment to think about situations you personally face at work that have been tough to deal with.
Got one or two? Good, let’s talk about how God works in them.
I’ve personally experienced God working through situations at work in three ways.
First, when I react negatively and reflect on what I should have done. There’s no getting around it. We all make mistakes and we all sin. There’s no such thing as a perfect employee. What matters is that we learn from our mistakes and sinful reactions through repentance and reflection. The sovereignty of God is seen in His ability to work all things out for our good, including our sins and shortcomings.
Second, when I react positively which reinforces right behavior. At work we are faced with decisions every day, and many of them are ethical. We are given opportunities to be honest, upright, hard-working people of integrity. Every time we tell the truth, do our work with excellence, and do the right thing when no one is watching, we are reinforcing right behavior and godly habits. This is a means of sanctification.
And third, through the skills and characteristics I develop at work that carry over into my personal life. We’re likely unaware of all the ways God has sanctified us through the skills and lessons we’ve learned at work. I’ve personally learned how to communicate more effectively, multi-task more efficiently, and problem solve more easily. These skills have all carried over into my personal life and Christian walk.
I encourage you to think about the ways God is using skills you’ve developed at work to bless you in other areas of life and to grow you as a Christian.
Now onto the second main way God sanctifies us at work, and then we’ll wrap up.
- By the people we’re around
God changes us through the people we work around. Let’s call it relational sanctification. And let’s face it, we all have worked around some difficult personalities.
Maybe it’s a supervisor. Maybe it’s a coworker. Or maybe it’s your child at home that’s being difficult. Whoever it is, God can use even them.
As much as we may want a better supervisor, harder working coworkers, and easier children, the truth of the matter is that God may be using the things about them that irritate you the most to grow you in the ways you most need.
It’s helpful at this point to list the fruits of the spirit Paul gives us in Galatians 5 to help us see ways God may be trying to change us. I think they are a good starting place because God says these things will be produced in our lives as we are led by the spirit and are having our minds renewed. In other words they are evidence of our sanctification.
The fruit are:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self control
So there they are. I’ll start off by saying that when we pray for God to help us grow, He doesn’t just snap His fingers and transform us. God is a God of means. If we pray for more love, he will give us opportunities to love the unlovely. When we pray for more patience, He will put us in situations where our patience is tested.
These situations often arise during difficult times. Two passages come to mind when talking about how God uses trials and tribulations.
James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
And Romans 5:3-5 which says, “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
To sum these two passages up, we can say that our attitude towards suffering and trials should be a joyful one because God is producing changes in us that would not have occured without them.
Could it be that God is using the trials you’re experiencing at work to grow you? Could it be that God is using that person you can’t stand to conform you more to the image of Christ? Not only is it possible, but probable.
So how are ways God sanctifies us through the people we work around? Through them testing us and teaching us.
– People testing us
One way God uses the people we work with is by testing us through them. When we work with difficult people, we are given opportunities to be tested and to grow in the fruits of the spirit and holiness.
Think of the fruits of the spirit like muscles. When we’re being tested, our muscles have a chance to be worked out and strengthened. Each test gets you more reps, which builds endurance for the next one. There will be some fatigue and soreness, but it will lead to growth.
When we work around people with bad attitudes, we are tested and given an opportunity to express joy and resist the negativity.
When we work around people who try our patience, we are tested and given an opportunity to keep our cool as time passes.
When we work around people who are passive aggressive, we are tested and given an opportunity to show them love and to exhibit self control.
When we work around people who are living in chaos and bringing it into the workplace, we are tested and given an opportunity to experience the peace of God and to spread it to others.
When we work around people who are not Christians, we are tested and given an opportunity to be faithful in our witness.
The tests go on and so does the fruit that can come from them. I encourage you to view things this way, and to thank God for the people He has placed you around at work.
–People teaching us
Not only do we work around people who test us in many ways, but we also work around people who teach us.
I’ve learned a lot from the people I work with. By paying attention to how others work, talk, and carry themselves, I’ve been able to pick up on things I would not have otherwise learned.
There’s a lesson we can learn from everyone. The key to learning it is humility. We must first be willing and open to learning from others before we can benefit from this method of growth.
I learn from people at work who I see and want to imitate, and from those I see and want to avoid being like. These are two very valuable ways to learn.
What are the lessons you’ve been learning lately at work? Do you find yourself picking up positive traits from those worth imitating? Or do you find yourself being influenced by those acting ungodly. Remember we are all constantly being an influence on others and being influenced by others.
Knowing that we learn and are influenced by those we work with should cause us to be careful how we influence others. Our coworkers are watching us too. They are being impacted by the way we work, talk, and react to things on the job. Are you shining the light of Christ at work or being a stumbling block to those who are around you?
Wrapping up
There’s a job offer on the table for all of us and God is looking for faithful Christians who are willing to accept it. He is calling us to enter our workplaces with a God glorifying, servant minded, humble heart willing to be sanctified by challenging situations and people.
The problem? We’ve failed and fallen short of the glory of God at work so many times before, so how are we supposed to change? The answer is by looking to the perfect worker, Jesus Christ Himself as our example and one who died in our place.
In John 17:4 Jesus prays to the Father, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do”.
Jesus finished the work God gave Him, perfectly pleasing and glorifying Him. What was the work assigned to Him? To live the life we could never live by perfectly keeping the law and obeying God in thought, word, and deed. Not only did He fulfill the righteous requirements of the law on our behalf, but He died the death we should have died for our sins and shortcomings. However, as an act of approval and vindication for the finished work of Christ, God raised Him up from the grave three days later never to die again.
He now sits at the right hand of God, enthroned with glory and honor. He is our advocate and mediator when we fall short, and is the one who gives us strength to live the Christian life. By looking to His example and abiding in Him, we are given the grace we need to be shining lights in our workplaces.
If we do this, we will be able to look back and say it was a job well done.
I hope this has shined some light, please like and share if this has blessed you!
Shine the Light and Write 