Working As Unto The Lord

More stress doesn’t always equal a higher salary, and if you bring home the stress along with the salary, is it really worth it? If that describes you, maybe it’s time to re-think the purpose of your work. 

Some statistics claim that 54% of American employees are happy with their jobs, while others claim that 83% are suffering from work-related stress.

A Different Question: Why Are You Working?

Whether the statistics are accurate or not, stress is a pervasive issue, and work is often a significant contributor. The question arises: What should you do if work-related pressure overwhelms you? Quit? Change careers? Or just grit your teeth and keep pushing through?

As believers in Christ, it's essential to step back and ask a fundamental question: Why are we working in the first place? Our desire to do productive, meaningful work is woven into our very DNA. When God created Adam and Eve, He immediately gave them work to do—naming the animals and tending the garden. However, sin has twisted work, and it’s no longer always the fulfilling task God intended. Now, work can be a source of frustration and even illness.

Colossians 3:23-24 offers the key to finding purpose and contentment in our jobs: 

This scripture reminds us that no matter what job we do, we are ultimately serving God. When we shift our perspective from working for ourselves or even our employers to working for Jesus, our work gains deeper meaning and satisfaction.

The Proverbs 31 Woman: A Model of Noble Work Ethic

For a practical example of someone who worked as unto the Lord, we can look to the woman described in Proverbs 31. Though we don’t know her name, her virtue and work ethic are clearly outlined, and her actions are worth emulating.