Couple of years ago, I read a book by Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert called The Gospel at Work, and what I took away from this study was an understanding that our jobs are a primary means of sanctifying us and making us more like Christ.
After being out of full-time work for a year, I landed a job that I truly feel was orchestrated by God. Before starting, I had major hopes that I’d be doing really important things at my new job and making things happen. But I soon found out that this was not to be the case.
I felt disillusioned when various situations in the workplace made me unsure of myself, and my job exposed sin and weaknesses in me. I began realizing God had a purpose for me in my workplace that was different than what I thought.
Through prayer and by His grace, I discovered God’s purpose for me at work.. One of these purposes is being faithful to do my job the best way I know how and approaching whatever task I’m doing at work, big or small, in a Christlike way.
Before David was King of Israel, he was Saul’s servant, but first he was a shepherd who faithfully tended sheep. When David prepared to fight Goliath, Saul warned him of the danger and David responded, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth…your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine [referring to Goliath], shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God” (I Sam 17:34-36).
I imagine David spent many days worshipping God on the hillsides while tending his sheep. He probably got a little bored at times, but he stayed faithful while God shaped and prepared him for that moment when he would face and defeat Goliath, ultimately showing everyone the power of his God.
What about you? How are you seeing God shape you through your job, period of unemployment or transition? What purposes do you think God has for you? Surrender all things to Him every day and seek to make glorifying God your greatest purpose as you remain faithful to him where you’re at right now.
Written by Anonymous. Artwork by Carol Li