Most of us have to work for a living. We own businesses, manage businesses, or are employees who work primarily to provide for the basic needs; food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and education.

For some, income also provides for entertainment and the possibility of retirement security from the wise investment of discretionary funds.

The work we do enables us to exist in our monetary society. But is that all there is to it? Unfortunately, for many, the sad answer is, “yes.”

You see, in the developed world, work is viewed as a means to self-fulfillment. So the “world” looks at the man who lives in the big house on the hill and drives an expensive car and says, “he must be smarter than me, he must be more successful, he must be more fulfilled.”

Along with this “wealth equals success” theory is a similar one that says, “you’ve got to do whatever it takes to get the job done.” Achievement of the objective becomes the driving force: nothing but the expedient matters. Even things like principles and integrity take a back seat to the employee-driven to succeed no matter what it takes.

According to Peter Drucker, in his book, Management, Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, “There is only one valid definition of business purpose: to create a customer.”

Drucker’s point is that many respond to the question of “what is the purpose of business?” with “to make a profit.” While making a profit is critical to business continuity, profit is not the purpose of business. Instead, profit is the result of, and the reward for, having “created customers.” From Drucker’s viewpoint, the purpose of business is to provide a product or service that fills a consumer need.

If one considers only the here and now, Drucker is right. If one considers eternity, Drucker’s concept is short-sighted.

You see, regardless of the goods we produce or the service we provide, all are temporal. “What does a man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? Generations come, and generations go, but the earth remains forever” (Ecclesiastes 1:3-4).

The license plate frame that reads, “The one with the most toys wins,” is wrong. No matter how many toys you accumulate because of earthly success, you must still face the cold, hard reality that life is short.

God’s 4 Purposes For Our Work

Like Daniel into the lion’s den comes the Christian manager. Yet, we can survive if we understand, believe, and accept God’s plan for work.

His plan for our work is no different than His plan for the rest of our lives. Work allows us to worship, witness, minister, and grow spiritually.

Worship. “Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship you should offer” (Romans 12:1). Many people draw a line between their worship on Sunday and the work they do Monday through Friday. Perhaps you know someone like this; a heavenly saint on Sunday and Scrooge on Monday. Endeavor to make your work a worship to God all week long!

Witness. In his farewell address to the Ephesian elders, Paul said, “I consider life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task that the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

Some of you may be rebelling at the thought of witnessing at work. You may have a picture in your mind of a “bible thumper” who scares more employees than he comforts.

That’s the wrong picture! The picture should be of an employee who works energetically, enthusiastically, without grumbling or complaining. An employee who works “as though they were working for the Lord.”

See the difference? It’s the example we set that provides a witness. Matthew 5:16 provides a concise description of the type of witness we should have in our work: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven.”

Actions speak louder than words. More they what we say, our example should be the “light that shines before men.”

Minister. Isaiah writes, “The Lord God has given me his words of wisdom so that I may know what I should say to all these weary ones” (Isaiah 50:4). There is no end to suffering and pain. In your workplace, you have the opportunity to minister to the “weary ones.”

Grow Spiritually. Do not think for a minute that God only wants to teach you spiritual things for an hour on Sunday morning! Our lives are an evolving process from spiritual milk to solid food. All of the problems, trials, and stress in your business life are there to help you mature spiritually. Proverbs 18:15 says, “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.” So in every trial, in every great success, look for the opportunity to grow spiritually.

Enjoy Your Work

For those of you that struggle through every day with a deep frown on your face, realize that this is not God’s plan. He wants you to enjoy your work. Solomon spelled it out in Ecclesiastes 5:18-19:

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.”

God’s plan for our work is further illustrated in Paul’s letter to the Colossians 3:23-24, “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 an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Clearly, we are to enjoy our work. God empowers us to receive this reward; our work is a gift from God! Furthermore, we are instructed to work as though we were working for the Lord. Would you change anything in the way you work if Jesus had the corner office in your building?

Bonus Whitepaper

This week’s post is excerpted from a 6-page whitepaper entitled, “Does Your Work Matter? The Role of Business in Society.”

This whitepaper includes a broader discussion of the role of work in society, including:

• Individual Purpose versus Business Purpose,
• The Examples of Solomon and David,
• Our Sphere of Influence,
• Getting Started, and
• Paul’s 15 Guidelines for Employees.

You can download the whitepaper here: “Does Your Work Matter? The Role of Business in Society.”

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. For example, is each of God’s 4 purposes for work present in your work? If not, which one do you need to develop?

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Category: Personal Development | Purpose/Passion