Many professionals and employees drag themselves to work day in and day out with very little passion and desire for what they do for a living. Maybe that's you today and you're thinking that it's only because there is no essence to your job and the people at your office suck the life out of you. On the other hand you could love your job. Whatever the case, when we truly see the heart and core of our jobs, we will come to a realisation of how much it means to God and the work of His kingdom.
Before your job is ever your work, it is God's work. Every company, industry and job position (as long as it's legal and helpful) is part of God's work and God's creation. From the very beginning, God created man for the very reason that he would work. Genesis 2:15 tells us that even Adam was given work: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."
God is the author of your work and your profession. This brings about three revelations on work for all of us:
If it's God's work, it is meaningful
God, as we all know, is a purposeful God. He creates everything for a purpose and sustains it according to the purpose He sets. We all have a purpose and we are given God-ordained professions because they help us serve our purpose here on earth. Whether you're in sales, operations, legal, medical, creative or technical work there is meaning to it and God set that meaning.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." God's purpose for us includes meaningful work.
If it's God's work, it must be done excellently
1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Everything we do we do to honour and glorify God, including the professions we hold.
Because our work is God's work and because we represent a holy, perfect and excellent God, we are to do our work with as much excellence as possible. That doesn't mean we always have to be on top and that we have to get results no matter what the cost, but it does mean that we are to give our one hundred percent at all times necessary.
If it's God's work, it will bless others
Because our work is God's work, it serves the purpose of serving and blessing others. Within all of us is an innate desire to be a blessing to others and we work best when we realise how our professions make lives better for other people. How does your job contribute to society? When we have a clear grasp of how our jobs help others, we will find more satisfaction in them.
We can learn from Jesus' attitude when He says in Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." In the same way Jesus has served us, we can now serve others.
