Your Work Matters to God (Part 1)

A salesman stopped to visit a client and was amazed to find a big dog emptying wastebaskets. "All part of the job!" the dog said cheerfully. "Does your boss know how fortunate he is to have a talking dog?!?" the salesman asked. "No," replied the dog, "and don't tell him or he'll have me answering the phones next!"

Aren't we like that dog sometimes? We hide our talents so that we can just skate through our day, doing as little as possible, then go home. Heaven forbid our employers find out all of our skills... they might make us do more work! The irony is that God never intended for work to be such a drag. God desires for your work to bring you joy and Him Glory.

The bible says in Ecclesiastes 2:24, "There is nothing better than to... find satisfaction in work... these pleasures are from God." (NLT)

Have you ever thought about your work as something that glorifies God? The truth is, we need you. Every job is important. Cities need plumbers, electricians and pest control guys. Nations need soldiers, senators, and I.R.S auditors. Stop lights break, bones break, kids need teachers and care takers, our judicial system needs judges, lawyers, security guards, paralegals, assistants, janitors (to keep that courthouse looking clean!) and clerks. In every walk of life, there are countless jobs to be done. Each job is a chance to serve God in a unique way. When you think about how much we depend on one another getting our jobs done, it's not hard to see how God could use us to make big impacts on our world through our work.

If you think about it, you'll notice that your career consumes half of your life! Shouldn't it showcase God and his work in you? Don't those 40-60 hours a week belong to God too?

Jesus said, "My Father never stops working... so I keep working too." (John 5:17 NCV)

I know that your job can be tough. Sometimes, you just don't want to do it anymore. In times like this, remember that God wants to use you to make a difference in your chosen field. Be the best you can be. "Our Father never stops working..." Neither should we. Remember today how much God loves you, and how much your work matters to Him.