On the Job

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

– Matthew 25:23

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' most recent American Time Use Survey, it’s lumberjacks and farmers who report being the happiest and least stressed on the job. On the other hand, social workers and those in the heath-care industry see their occupations as meaningful — but they’re also highly stressed and rank lower on the happiness scale.

The saying goes that you’ll never work another day in your life if you love what you're doing for a living. That’s when a run-of-the-mill job becomes a passion. But whether you’re thrilled with your career or you’re simply putting in the hours for a paycheck, the Bible has some words of wisdom that put things in perspective:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men …”

Whether you’re the CEO of an international corporation or a 9-to-5 ditch-digger, you should do your job for God’s glory while we wait for his return. And Christ-followers should also consider the workplace as much a place of worship on weekdays as church is on Sundays. What’s more, we must work — and live — with the end in mind. Because once we pass into eternity, job titles and salaries will be worthless. Rich or poor, famous or obscure, we’ll all have to account for what we did in our lifetimes with the gifts and talents our Creator gave us. 

The world’s message is that focusing on money, position, and upward mobility can lead to a successful career, and that a successful career equates to a successful life. But the world has it backwards. Everything we have — our money, possessions, family, and health — is due to God’s generosity. He gives it freely. And he can take it away without notice.

God’s definition of success surely comes as a surprise to many in the workforce. So, instead of living self-centered lives on the fast track to a big salary, stock options, and a corner office, our motivation should revolve around being his hands and feet in the home, workplace, and community. It's our faithfulness and hope in him that's the real measure of success on the job.