Working as Unto the Lord

Some statistics claim that 54 percent of American employees are happy with their jobs. Then again, apparently, 83 percent of us are suffering from work-related stress.  

So, what does all this mean for you?  If work-related pressure is getting you down, what do you do? Quit? Re-train and change jobs? Grit your teeth and keep going?

We suggest you step back and ask a different question: As a believer in Christ, why are you working in the first place?

The desire to do productive, meaningful work is in our D-N-A.  In fact, when God created Adam and Eve, He immediately set them to work naming the animals and tending their beautiful garden.  

Unfortunately, along with everything else, work was twisted by sin after the Fall.  Now, instead of always being productive and satisfying the way God intended, work can literally make us sick.

In Colossians 3: 23 and 24, we see the key to rediscovering meaningful work: 

“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.”

Serving God in your work, whether your job is secular or not, is the key to contentment on the job.  The verse says “whatever you do”, so it’s not the work itself that matters, it’s the boss.  And if you’re a Christian, your boss is Jesus - not you, and not even your employer.

Here’s an example of someone who did her job as unto the Lord.

We don’t know her name, but her virtues are outlined in Chapter 31 of Proverbs. She’s referred to as “A wife of noble character”, but her actions and attitudes are worth studying and imitating, no matter who you are.

One characteristic of this Bible hero that stands out to me is what we might call her work ethic. Here are some of the phrases that describe this woman of “noble character”.  You can ask yourself: Does this describe me, too?

“She works with eager hands…” A person of noble character has a positive attitude towards work, knowing that diligence can produce many benefits.

“She gets up while it is still dark, she provides food for her family…” The Bible makes it clear that providing for your family is a primary responsibility. She takes it very seriously.