Work That Pleases God

“I’m just a plumber.” “I’m just a painter.” “I’m just a mom.” I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard Christians make these kinds of statements over the years. When I’ve asked, “Why do you say ‘just’?” they usually say something like, “Well, I’m not in Christian work. I’m not a pastor or a missionary. I don’t work for the church or a Christian organization.”

Does that sound familiar? Maybe you’re happy in your work, but you don’t see it as “Christian” work. Maybe you think Christian work is leading Bible studies, helping the poor, evangelizing, Bible teaching, and so on, and that’s the kind of work God notices and praises. “How can I find work with a higher purpose that pleases God more?” you wonder.

In Proverbs 11:1, Solomon helps believers see a much higher point in their work and receive a much higher praise for their work.

God Tests Us in Our Daily Work (11:1)

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord” (11:1). Imagine you’re walking through the markets of Solomon’s time. Most merchants have a set of scales at their stalls. Stopping at a grain stall, you hold out your bag: “I’d like three stones of grain please.” The merchant opens a bag, picks out a stone with a 3 etched on it, puts that on one side of the scale, and then pours out grain on the other side until the scales balance. “There you go. Three stones of grain. That will be thirty shekels, please.”

As you walk away, the merchant smiles to himself because when he made his weight bag, he deliberately chose lighter stones than he should have so that he would get paid for three stones of grain when he was only giving two stones of grain.

There are repeated references to this corrupt practice in the Bible, revealing how much God hates this kind of cheating (e.g., Deut. 25:13; Prov. 16:11; 20:10). No matter how much the businessman smiles at his success, it’s “an abomination” in God’s sight. That’s a “10” on the scale of anger, disgust, and repudiation. Solomon warns that God is walking through the dusty markets watching and weighing the weighers, noting and denouncing dishonesty.

God tests our work by our morals, not by our money.

If that’s what disgusts God, how can I delight him in my work?

God Delights in Our Daily Work (11:1)

“A just weight is his delight” (11:1). God denounces the dishonest but delights in the honest. When God sees an honest and fair transaction in the marketplace, he is delighted. Delight is the same word God uses of his pleasure in his Son (Isa. 42:1), and in those who pray to him and fear him (Ps. 147:11). It’s a “10” on the scale of pleasure and happiness.

Understanding what delights God changes our work without changing our work. We don’t need to do extraordinary acts of Christian service or endure extraordinary suffering for Christ’s sake to please God. Whatever our job might be, an honest day’s work delights the Lord.

Honest work for God gets hearty praise from God.

Changing Our Story with God’s Story

Let’s use Proverbs 11:1 to reconnect our work with worship and our labor with the Lord. In doing so, we’ll discover the highest purpose in our work and the highest praise for our work.

And remember, one day we’ll all be weighed in the perfect balance of God (Prov. 16:2; Dan. 5:27). On one side is God’s weighty law. What will you put on the other side? God cannot be conned. Place the perfect work of Christ in the balance. He’s the only one ever weighed and not found wanting. Nothing makes God happier than this.

Summary: How can we find work with a higher purpose that pleases God more? Give God (and yourself) happiness by giving others honesty in everyday work.

Question: How can you change your work pleasure without changing your workplace?

Prayer: My Heavenly Employer, help me to find purpose and praise in my work by working for your purpose and by receiving your praise.