What do you do? This is the first thing we ask when we meet someone for the first time. We seem to measure our worth and self-esteem by what we do and can achieve.

This is ok. We work for satisfaction in life. We cannot be doing nothing; we need to be occupied. The Bible says: “The Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)

The problem is, job satisfaction is rare in today’s competitive world. Many of us feel it’s a drudgery to go to work every day.

It has been said that if you love your job you never have to work a day in your life. Steve Jobs took it further : “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”

I myself love my job; I never consider that going to the Eagles office is “working.” But only privileged people have this sort of opportunity. Most of us are in a dead-end. What do we do in that kind of a bind?

Work ethic
The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary! At the two ends of the work spectrum are the compulsive workaholic and the shirkaholic. The rest of us fit between; we continue to try to find purpose in our work.

The Christian perspective is:

1. Work is to be enjoyed because job satisfaction is a gift from God.

“Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil – this is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19)

Work is for all of us – as long as the work is honorable, whatever it may be. Martin Luther’s perspective was that work is not so much glorification of our human activity but rather a celebration of the continuing creativity of God.

2. Because of sin the ground is cursed, but not work.

“Because you have … eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you … By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground … ” (Genesis 3:17-19)

If we don’t work we become aimless and restless; we lose our identity. Timothy Keller, in his book, Every Good Endeavor, writes:
“Work is as much a basic human need as food, beauty, rest, friendship, prayer, and sexuality; it is not simply medicine but food for our soul.”

3. Work allows us to participate to partner with God in providing human needs.

The purpose of work is sustenance, satisfaction, stewardship. Along with our own needs, we are called to provide for the needs of society. To that end, God has invited us to be part of His way of taking care of the world.

4. All honorable work is our witness to the world for God.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for
the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23) This is the attitude we carry into the workplace. Your ultimate boss is never another person. You work for yourself and for God. In secular work, we function as salt and light.

5. Excellence in our work is an expression of our worship to God.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 says: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” In verse 13, we are told: “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.” In Greek, the word “excellent” means “pleasing to God”. How well you do your work matters.

6. Life is more than work because our worth is based on who we are, not what we do.

We are children of God. God does not love you less if you are unemployed. My school principal once said your “vocation” is to love God. Anything else is an “avocation”, which means “minor hobby”. If we have that perspective we won’t worship work as an idol.

Now, what should you do?

1. Making a life is more significant than making a living.

Success is adding value to myself (money, possessions). Significance is adding value to others – building them up. Beyond significance is service: When you serve others, you add value to God.

2. God uses us to get work done in our offices, our churches, and elsewhere. God also uses our work to get us done. Consider: What is it that really matters to you? Are you becoming a person of God through your work?