Working for the Lord

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Ephesians 4:28

In our first year of marriage, my wife Ready and I seriously considered if I should go to seminary and enter full-time ministry. After several months of prayer, reading God’s Word, and discussions with godly friends, the Lord called me to be engaged in full-time ministry … in the business world. 

Over time, my perspective of work was transformed from an occupation, where my only purpose was to earn a living for me and my family, to a vocation, a calling from God. 

Have you ever wondered what God is calling you to do in your work? Is it only for the income? No question, through our work, He provides for us and our family, and He also calls us to financially support the local and global church and help those in need. Where is the Lord guiding you in these ways?

The income our work generates is important, but God calls us to consider the other purposes He has for us there. If we believe that God is sovereign over all things, as we read in Romans 11:36: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things”, then wherever we find ourselves working, in the home, in the classroom, at the office, or in the field, God placed us there for a good purpose. 

Over my working career, the Lord reinforced His call by giving me opportunities to encourage others with a kind word, listen to and pray for people who are hurting, offer wise counsel from God’s Word, share the gospel, and teach Bible studies. The people we work with may never know a Christian pastor or attend a worship service.

So, in light of this calling, how should we approach our work? God’s Word makes it clear that the Lord calls us to do our work with energy and excellence. This is honoring to God, a blessing to others, and it is good for us. Consider God’s Word in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…”, and this powerful charge in Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

It is also instructive that this single verse in Ephesians 4:28 reinforces two of the Ten Commandments, “You shall not steal” and “Six days you shall labor”. In this new perspective of our work, God desires that we transition from a mindset of taking to giving, from trying to get what we deserve to being grateful for the opportunity to serve others. Perhaps the Lord is leading us to grow from thinking about what we can take from our job to considering how we can use the gifts the Lord has given us to bless others. 

Though our culture teaches us that we should look forward to retirement and even strive to retire early, the Bible challenges us to redeploy rather than retire, as my energetic friend Dick Senzig often says. If we are no longer in a traditional work environment, the Lord challenges us to seek ways to work for Him with energy and excellence, using the experience and wisdom He has given us, until the end of our days.

If you want to learn more about God’s purposes for your work, I recommend Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller and Work by Dan Doriani. 

I encourage you to pray to the Lord, who is Ruler over all, about your work. Pray for renewed energy and passion for excellence as you work. Ask Him how He wants you to financially support the church and those in need with your income and time. And pray for opportunities to love others with encouragement, prayer, and God’s Word. 

May the Lord continue to bless you and many others through you!