Have you ever thought of your work as holy? Have you ever considered that Jesus spent the first 30 years of his life as a carpenter, and only his last three in what we'd call "full-time ministry"? We tend to think of a pastor's or missionary's work as more holy than an entertainer's, a sales person's, and certainly a lawyer's. But is this really true? When Jesus came to the earth, didn't He come to reclaim all that was lost in the garden? (Luke 10:19) I believe that He did!
We have a problem in our faith when we don't think what we're doing right now is ministry to God, and to others. When we view our work as not as important as a pastor's or ministry leader's, this sets us up for failure in being a part of God's kingdom. We are the church, we are Jesus' body, we are all representatives of the gospel - why should a title, career path or job description limit us from this Holy calling? It's all in our perception. We are more likely to settle for mediocre when we don't see everything we do as a calling from God, as an offering to Him.
Imagine for a moment you have a friend named Jane, and Jane is frustrated about her life because she is a secretary, and not a missionary like one of her friends. "I'm not really serving God!" she might say, even though she does enjoy her job. Her workmates see her as a nice girl but wouldn't call her joyful. Her joy in God doesn't show because she thinks of her work as "less holy" than her friend's. She can't speak life into the lives of others because she is clouded by her frustration. People won't ask her about her beliefs because she doesn't know how to let her light shine. When our work becomes nothing more than a means to money, it becomes devoid of purpose. In reality, every encounter we have with others is an opportunity to let God's light shine through us, and to love them like He does - even if it's difficult at times.
There is something to be said for doing work that aligns with your gift mix and moving toward God's ultimate call on your life, whether that is to be a pastor, businessperson, movie director, hairstylist, or whatever. But, even when it doesn't, and even when we are dealing with difficult co-workers, bosses, and clients, aren't we still working for God, and not for man? (Colossians 3:23-24)
Do you see your work as holy? Ask God how you should view your work. Everyone's work - no matter who you are or what you do - has immense value in God's kingdom!
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