Working for God

Let’s be honest – working is not always easy. Some of us have jobs we don’t enjoy or like. Some of us have bosses that aren’t great. Some of us have tedious jobs while others have hard manual labor jobs. Even those of us who enjoy our jobs and have great bosses still would sometimes prefer a world where work and our jobs did not take up so much of our time and life. Ultimately, going to work for many of us feels like Groundhog Day – the same day over and over again. So it can be hard to approach working with the right attitude.

Paul tells reminds us of one very important fact about working:

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…

Paul reminds us that there are roles and jobs in life we may not always like, want, or appreciate. But regardless of our feelings about our role or job, Paul tells us plainly – we complete that job and fulfill that role as though we are doing it directly for the Lord. Whatever you do – work as though you are working directly for the Lord. Paul even says to work not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. When we work, we should work hard, have a good attitude, and be genuine with our colleagues, bosses, and those we interact with because we fear the Lord and understand that we are really working for Him – not man.

So, what are some practical examples of what this looks like?

💪 Work hard on projects you don’t agree with or did not want to be assigned to.

💪 Work hard for bosses or employers that are hard to work for.

💪 Have a good attitude at work even when it is hard to be positive there.

💪 Do not complain about your coworkers or work conditions.

💪 Don’t lie about taking time off.

💪 Don’t steal time from your employer.

💪 Don’t take credit for other’s people hard work.

💪 Help be a source of solutions and improvements instead of problems.

Remember, when we go to work – we are really working for God. Would God approve of our work ethic, work attitude, and work demeanor? If not, then we are not being pleasing to God because we are not working as though we are working directly for God.

Work isn’t easy and it is rarely fun. But, God expects us to set a good example for others and point others to God at work. The best way to do that is to work every day as though God is your direct supervisor or your office mate. Remember, ultimately we are working directly for God. #GodsLaborers