God’s Design For Your WorkSample

Whose Purpose for Your Work Are You Pursuing?

What’s more important to you? Your success at work or God? You’ll find the answer when you look at where you are spending your time. Many of us allow work and the things it can give us to become our first priority without fully realizing it. Sometimes we leave God in the background – or forget about Him altogether. The world’s influence can overshadow God’s influence over us.

Work may help us build big bank accounts and large organizations, take lavish vacations, and create a sense of security based on our own abilities – but Ecclesiastes reminds us that those things are meaningless. The energy we put into acquiring them can leave us feeling empty. Unhealthy relationships are too often left in the wake of excess time at work. We can have material wealth, yet be completely bankrupt.

God demonstrated how great His love is for us when He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sins. Jesus reminded us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37). We are called to make God our number one priority, and to partner with God in our work for His glory. To do this, we have to be very intentional not to give into how people define success. 

Phil Vischer learned this the hard way. When the success of VeggieTales surged, he became focused on the numbers and having a bigger impact – his thoughts were all about expansion. Eventually, the aggressive pursuit of expansion led to the demise of the company.

Romans 12:2 tells us not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can know what God’s perfect will is. Being diligent about being in God’s Word daily gives us the wisdom we need to ensure we consistently pursue God’s purpose for our work, and not our own. How can you ensure you are putting God first? 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I love you with all my heart. May Your Word transform me and help me to walk closely with you in my work and all of life. Help me understand the true purpose of my work from Your perspective. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For Further Exploration  

Read the Workmatters blog “Discovering God’s Purpose For Your Work.”