At a few points in my career, I felt depressed and discouraged. It seemed like everything I tried failed, and what little I did made no difference in the grand scheme of things.
It was times like these that Solomon’s opening lament in the book of Ecclesiastes resonated with me:
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3)
According to Solomon, everything in life, including our work, is empty and meaningless. All vanity!
Paul Labored in Vain!
Even the great apostle Paul seemed to share a similar concern regarding his work. Paul said several times that he feared he “labored in vain”; that all the work he did in spreading the Gospel and starting churches meant nothing and would all disappear (Galatians 2:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:1, 3:5).
I always envision Paul as this giant of faith, supremely confident and all-knowing—what to do and how to do it. It’s hard for me to imagine Paul ever felt discouraged to the point that he felt like everything he did was meaningless!
Yet he did. However, Paul didn’t feel like that all the time.
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul took on a more positive outlook, assuring the Corinthians that our labor is not in vain even though it may seem like it.
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Paul is exhorting us first to stand firm and confident in our faith. We must not be swayed by false teachers, liars, and those who deceive us and lead us away from God. Second, we are to devote ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. We are not working half-heartedly or being double-minded with one set of values on the weekend and another set at work.
The result says Paul, of standing firm in the faith and devoting ourselves fully to God’s work is that our labor will not be in vain!
Is All Labor for the Glory of the Lord?
Contrary to some, I do not believe that all work is God-ordained, nor does it always bring glory to God.
Regardless of your intentions, some work does not bring glory to God. For example, there are stories of religious men who made idols and sold them to the people in the Old Testament, even though God expressly forbids idol worship.
Is a doctor who took an oath not to harm, honoring God when he performs an abortion?
I don’t think so!
What about someone who makes products we know are harmful or even deadly (for example, certain drugs, cigarettes). Does the production of these products honor God in any way?
Again, I don’t think so. Such work is “labor in vain.”
So, what kind of work brings glory to God?
The 3 Elements of Work That Brings Glory to God
It is not enough to have good intentions, as they alone do not produce work that brings glory to God.
In his book, Work—It’s Purpose, Dignity, and Transformation, author Daniel Doriani suggests work that brings glory to God must possess three elements:
- The goal of the work must be to glorify God. The idea of the goal of work speaks to purpose. Is the purpose of this work to glorify God or man?
- The standard must be God’s law. Does this work violate God’s law or principles? If so, it does not bring glory to God!
- The motive must be love for God and His people. Are we doing this work out of love for God and his people, or are we doing it for selfish reasons?
Work that brings glory to God includes all three such elements. If an element is missing in your work, chances are good you are working in vain!
More Articles
I have written several articles on this topic. You can find them by typing “Purpose/Passion” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.
- #269: What Strategy Do You Need to Finish Well?
- #263: What Are God’s Four Purposes For Your Work?
- #225: The Insidious Gap Between What We Say and What We Do
- #209: You and I are on a Journey to God Knows Where!
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have you ever felt that you “labored in vain”? If so, was one of the three elements of work that glorify God missing?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Personal Development | Purpose/Passion
It’s a great thing to consider. Would God approve of the work I’m doing? In my writing and artwork, I try to share uplifting messages. To inspire others. I pray that God approves of my efforts. Thanks, Ron.
John, Having been a reader of your posts for several years now, I have no doubt God approves of your efforts!
For all the rest of you, if you would like to read some enchanting articles about life check out John’s work at https://johnpweiss.com/blog.