Living With Purpose

People who work away from home spend more time there than at any other place. Ask the average person and they’ll tell you the purpose of their profession is to provide for their family or giving back to a particular cause or mission. As far as work is concerned, someone might think their job is just a means to an end and not merely as important as the work done by those who work “full time” or “part time” in Christian ministry. According to God, the secular and the sacred are often blurred and held together for the same high purpose and high-calling. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for man. Remember that you will get your reward from the Lord. He will give you what you should receive. You are working for the Lord Christ”.

Society and some Christians have created an artificial divide between Christian employment and a secular career. Many people think that those who get paid by a church are closer to God than those who labor for a secular business. This is simply not true. The Bible makes no distinction that one person’s job is of less importance than another. In God’s economy, the cubicle, the office, the warehouse, the field, the construction site, the police car, or lecture hall can become a sanctuary for showcasing God’s glory. It depends on who you’re serving when you do your job. All God requires of any person is faithfulness to our duties, whatever vocation we’re in.

People who trust God are mindful of His purpose on or off the job. God concerns Himself with the actual work we do. Do you take pride in your work? Do you care about the reputation you have while on the job? Does a good work ethic matter to you? Your responses to these three questions reflect the value you place on your job. They ultimately reflect the value you place on your Creator. Work in every profession goes beyond the human level. Your production rises above supervisors, budgets, and hostile environments. People may forget the fact that God is the judge of good work. If we do our work as unto the Lord, and we do it with the best we have to give He’s pleased with our efforts. Even if your boss doesn’t recognize it, God does. If you’re faithful to Him God will see to it that you’re blessed in some way for your good work. Never forget the words of Colossians 3 and know there’s eternal value in the day-to-day grind of your job. “Whatever work you do, do it with all your heart. Do it for the Lord and not for men” (Col. 3:23).

Something’s at work are out of our control. When the stress of your job seems overwhelming, if you think your job counts for nothing, when the work is boring, the office drab, and your co-workers two-faced—choose to control what you can. Adjust your attitude. Instead of seeing your job as a demeaning chore, realize that all work, no matter how small, is elevating when done with a faithful heart. God doesn’t promise us riches and endless fun. But He does promise a life of purpose and success, if we seek Him. Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord.”

One of the best ways to find God is to invite Him to go to work with you. Cry to Him and pour out your feelings and frustrations about work every morning in prayer. Then turn off your radio and TV and spend five minutes of silence listening for God’s comforting counsel.  Become spiritually aware that God speaks to our heart, not necessarily in words, but through an illumination. As you travel to your job each day, ask God to accompany you like a business partner or work associate and believe that He will help you in every decision that you’ll have to make. No matter what your job, you can minister to people around you. God is more concerned about how you work, than He is about where you work. Seek to serve others, work to the best of your ability and maintain a faithful, grateful attitude. You will wake up one day and realize that your life does make a difference and you are inspiring others to follow you.

• This weekly column is written by Matt Dobson. A graduate of Florida State University, Univ. of West Florida, and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, he is Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Jay, Florida and is a Captain (CPT) in the U.S. Army Reserves Chaplain Corp. Matt can be reached by email:  rmdobson@liberty.edu. He welcomes your thoughts concerning faith, belief, and Christian living. Visit the Living With Purpose website at www.living-with-purpose.org.