Do you know anyone who gets up on Monday morning and says, “Thank God It’s Monday, I get to go to work!”
No, neither do I.
Instead of celebrating work, many of us dread having to go to work.
There’s a popular restaurant chain called TGI Fridays. The name stands for, “Thank God it’s Friday.” After working all week, we need a restaurant, which celebrates the beginning of a weekend free from the workplace.
We also have songs, which allow us to commiserate in the desperation of having to trudge off to work every Monday to earn a living. Two of my favorites are Dolly Parton’s, “Working 9 to 5,” and Johnny Paycheck’s, “Take This Job and Shove It.”
Our view of work is a problem with our perspective.
Atheists, who say there is no God, see no higher purpose to work.
New Age followers see no distinction between man and God, so again, there is no higher purpose to work.
Among Christians, many see work from a secular perspective. It is simply a means to an end. Or, worse, they see work as punishment for man’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden.
Given these erroneous perspectives, it is no wonder so many people would rather go to work singing, “Take This Job and Shove It” instead of “Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It’s Off to Work I Go!”
The problem is, many of us see work as just work, and not as a calling. However, that is not what God intended.
Our Work IS Our Calling
The Bible provides us with direction regarding how we are to work in our occupations. There’s a special emphasis placed on working diligently and in being trustworthy.
Be Diligent
Solomon commands us to work hard. “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4).
Then, Solomon says later, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor” (Proverbs 12:27), and “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied” (Proverbs 13:4).
Solomon refers to the diligent worker repeatedly. A diligent worker is someone who works hard, energetically, painstakingly, and tries to do the best job possible.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul exhorts them, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence to the Lord” (Colossians 3:22).
The instruction is clear; we are to work hard whether we are being watched or not.
Paul goes on saying, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as a reward” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Whether we are sweeping floors or running a company, we are to work diligently, not because we have an earthly boss, but as though working for the Lord.
Be Trustworthy
In Paul’s letter to Titus he says, “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (Titus 2:9-10).
An employee that is pleasant, works hard, and doesn’t steal is trustworthy. And a trustworthy employee is a good witness to coworkers and the boss.
What’s the Point?
The common thread running through these instructions about work is the example we set as Christians workers. We need to be diligent. We need to be trustworthy.
However, there is a larger issue at stake. Being a diligent, trustworthy worker is what sets us apart. It can make people wonder, “What is special about him/her?” When people see us as being different, it makes them want to know why we are different.
The answer is, we are working for the Lord. When it is obvious we are working for the Lord; it makes teaching about God and what He means to us more attractive.
It’s Monday, Now What?
The attitude you carry into work every day makes all the difference to your coworkers.
You have a choice to make.
If you see your work as not having a higher purpose, or you think of your work as just being an end to a means, then please, don’t tell people you are a Christian.
However, if you see your work as having a higher purpose, and if you think of your work as an opportunity to be a light that draws others to God, then work with all your heart as though working unto the Lord.
Because you are!
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have people in your workplace stood out to you because of their faith? Was their example positive or negative? What can you do as you head off to work to differentiate yourself as a diligent, trustworthy worker?
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Category: Personal Development | Character
