Work is how we earn a living and provide for our families. And while it has become an idol for many – compulsively working to the neglect of other important aspects of life, it remains part of our living sacrifice and way to worship God.
From the beginning we were created to work.
Adam was charged with tending and watching over the garden. And this work was part of how he reflected the divine image and glorified the God who made him.
Likewise, we glorify God when we live out the full design for our life and doing the work he created us to do.
Certainly, what’s considered traditional ministry is a noble calling. But work as worship doesn’t require us to “enter the ministry” per se.
For many, our work will be our normal 9 to 5 or perhaps a side gig or two.
But whether we’re the butcher, baker, or candlestick maker, our work becomes worship when we faithfully do that thing God made us to do.
This is our sweet spot and there’s a certain ease to it. But it remains costly work – there are personal sacrifices we must endure in order to accomplish the tasks before us.
All the same, we’re not grinding simply to make a name for ourselves or to pad our bank accounts. We’re offering our strength as a gift back to God.
Our work and our life with God do not have to be two separate things. He created us to work and our work is part of how we worship him.
When we pour ourselves into work apart from God we’ve likely made it an idol. But we also dishonor God when we don’t faithfully do the work he created us to do.
Let your work be a wholehearted praise to the one who created you.
Photo by Dominik Scythe on Unsplash
