Worship In Our Work

The daily grind is a very real thing. Some of us work jobs that pay well but aren’t necessarily the greatest in the world. Others work great jobs, but they just don’t pay well. Every once in a great while you find that dream job that allows you to work in a field you love with people you genuinely enjoy while also being paid in such a way that you really have no worries. 
What do all these have in common? God expects us to be hard workers.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23–24.

This whole week we are focusing on worship, and today we’re looking at a part of our lives that we probably don’t always associate with worship….our careers, and employment. How can they possibly be considered worship to God? Let’s look back at the main verse from our devotion yesterday.


I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1–2

If we are offering our bodies, it’s kind of a given that everything we do matters when it comes to our worship, but God seems to really have an interest in how we work. There is a correlation between holiness and our work ethic throughout the Bible. It’s mentioned, not only in the New Testament but also in the Old Testament. As early as Genesis 2, before the fall, God put Adam to work.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
 Genesis 2:15

God never intended for us to be aloof or lazy. He intended for us to be hard workers and be honorable in our work. Do you want the respect of the people around you? Be a hard worker. Do you want to instill values into your children? Let them see you giving everything when you work.

Work ethic can be a witness to those around you. You can’t hide lazy. It’s so easy to pick out, and people WILL notice it. Someone with a poor work ethic will struggle to get people to follow them, and it’s really hard to lead someone to Christ if you are incapable of leading. How we work matters, and it’s a reflection of our worship toward God.

This is also important because God has always had a mission for us. He has designed us for a very specific task, and laziness isn’t compatible with it. We live in a very lost world that desperately needs a savior. Each day presents itself with the opportunity to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus. God just needs people who will work hard to reach the goal of making disciples.

In the book of Luke, Jesus sends out 72 people, 2 by 2, ahead of Him into every town He was about to enter to share the good news with anyone they came into contact with. He knew they had quite the task set out before them and said…

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”
Luke 10:2–3

Jesus knew he couldn’t send people into “the midst of wolves” and trust them if they didn’t have a strong work ethic. Everything we do represents a holy, just, and mighty God. When we take on Christ, we take on the responsibility of being His ambassadors to the world. An ambassador is the voice of the leader they represent, and they carry a heavy weight. How we carry ourselves in our work environments as Christ’s disciples, will give people a vision of who God is.

If we are lazy, don’t handle other’s leadership well, or are simply aloof, we will give an image of Christ that isn’t consistent with Who He is. When we exude responsibility, respect, and hard work, we show a God who is consistent and trustworthy. This is how we worship through our work. God designed us for this. The apostle Paul gives us this warning about laziness.

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
2 Thessalonians 3:10–12

Our work isn’t just our employment. It’s a window into WHO we are. We represent an almighty God, and our joy should be in Him. So work as if working for the Lord. Find your joy in His delight and don’t seek the praise of men.