Some days, the trudge from nine to five feels like trekking through a spiritual no-man’s land. Maybe I should resign, I think, and move to Nepal and pass out copies of the Gospel of John. Then my work could count for the Kingdom.
When I find myself thinking this way, I imagine the Apostle Paul. He’d probably say, “Wait a minute. I said, ‘Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ (1 Cor. 10:31).”
Photo courtesy of Startup Stock Photos via stocksnap.io
Whether we pump gas in Toronto, teach at the University of Illinois, or run an orphanage in Sudan, our work can worship God. But, how?
We worship God at work when we DEPEND on him for:
1. Intellectual Help
When we’re stumped on a project we can wrack our brains for a solution, or we can also stop and ask God for insight. When we depend on him for intellectual help, we worship the omniscient God.
2. Material Help
If we’re running an hour behind schedule, due to a catastrophe in the morning, we can cut corners and try to recover on our own, or we can also ask God to intervene. When we depend on God for logistical and material help, we worship the omnipotent God.
3. Fruit-of-the-Spirit Help
After hearing a sermon on love, we might prepare to muscle our way through loving our coworkers, or we can also ask the Holy Spirit to produce Jesus’ love in us. When we depend on God to reveal the character of Jesus in us, we worship the God who dwells in us.
We also worship God at work when we OFFER him:
4. Our Best
Whether we clean houses, build software, or balance the company’s finances, we’re in charge of developing and caring for our corner of the world. When we do our best to reflect God’s creativity and care in our work, we worship the God who made us in his image (Genesis 1:26).
5. Thank-You’s
God wants us to acknowledge all the gifts we take for granted: a job that pays the bills, a boss who isn’t abusive, or catching a mistake before the email goes out. When we neglect to thank God, even for the small things, we take the first step away from him (Romans 1:21). When we give thanks, we worship the God who gives.
6. Wonder
We can stress our way through work, oblivious to the wonder of life, or we can develop a sense of awe for all the possibilities God crammed into this world. When we praise God for digital technology, a coworker’s immune system that kicked the flu, or the microwave that heated up lunch, we worship the God of creativity.
7. Ultimate Credit
When we land a big sale that impresses our boss, we can bask in the glow of our success, or we can also acknowledge that God’s behind it. When we give God ultimate credit, we worship the God who made our strengths and helps us in our weaknesses.
So, let’s worship God through our work today—whether we’re preaching in the jungles of Indonesia, gloving up for heart surgery, or flipping gorditas at Taco Bell.
Question: How else can we worship God through work? Share your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter.
As I work with children, I’m well-aware of just how much my work matters to God. You can’t care for such precious ones without being aware of how much God loves them. My hard thing is my big desire to see them come to Him, yet knowing it’ll be a challenge due to the parents’ beliefs. I hate leaving my current family knowing that they’re not saved. One family I’ve interviewed with are Christians and, for me, that gives them major bonus points.