September 30
Enjoy Your Job
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25
From ages 21 to 65, the typical American spends about 1/4 of their life doing work. Apart from sleep (which occupies 1/3 of our lives), it’s our most time-consuming activity.
According to a January 31, 2024, LinkedIn article by John Canavan, 85% of us hate our jobs.
I think John got it wrong. In a June 19, 2023, Zippia article, Jack Flynn reported that 65% of us are happy with our jobs. 20% say they’re passionate about them. The part I liked most about Jack’s article was that, at 90%, clergy have the highest rate of job satisfaction of any profession.
Regardless of the statistics, God made us to have joy in our labors. Long before the Fall, he set Adam in the garden of Eden “…to work it and watch over it” (Genesis 2:15). Work was and is part of God’s plan for each of us. We were created to find satisfaction in what we do to earn a living.
As we read some days ago, our friend Solomon set out to determine how to get the most out of life. After exploring all the options, he concluded, “There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him?” Ecclesiastes 2:24-25.
Six Steps to Finding Joy in Your Job
1 Peter 4:10 says, "Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” Peter is referring to the spiritual gift God put inside of you to use to build His church, but the principle applies: you've been given certain propensities that make you better at a few things. Figure out what those are, and you'll likely find your sweet spot!
Seeing your place of work as your mission field significantly deepens your sense of purpose there and makes it easy to follow Colossians 3:17. “Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Father, thank You for the work You've given me to do. With Your help, I determine today to be a light to those I work with and a joy to You, my Redeemer. Take joy in me, Lord, as I take Your joy to work with me. In Jesus' name, Amen!
According to a January 31, 2024, LinkedIn article by John Canavan, 85% of us hate our jobs.
I think John got it wrong. In a June 19, 2023, Zippia article, Jack Flynn reported that 65% of us are happy with our jobs. 20% say they’re passionate about them. The part I liked most about Jack’s article was that, at 90%, clergy have the highest rate of job satisfaction of any profession.
Regardless of the statistics, God made us to have joy in our labors. Long before the Fall, he set Adam in the garden of Eden “…to work it and watch over it” (Genesis 2:15). Work was and is part of God’s plan for each of us. We were created to find satisfaction in what we do to earn a living.
As we read some days ago, our friend Solomon set out to determine how to get the most out of life. After exploring all the options, he concluded, “There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him?” Ecclesiastes 2:24-25.
Six Steps to Finding Joy in Your Job
- Work hard at it.
- Set goals for yourself.
- Build workplace friendships.
- Remember to Sabbath.
- Find a job that utilizes your strengths.
1 Peter 4:10 says, "Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” Peter is referring to the spiritual gift God put inside of you to use to build His church, but the principle applies: you've been given certain propensities that make you better at a few things. Figure out what those are, and you'll likely find your sweet spot!
- Bring light to your workplace.
Seeing your place of work as your mission field significantly deepens your sense of purpose there and makes it easy to follow Colossians 3:17. “Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Father, thank You for the work You've given me to do. With Your help, I determine today to be a light to those I work with and a joy to You, my Redeemer. Take joy in me, Lord, as I take Your joy to work with me. In Jesus' name, Amen!
October 1
Feeling Good about Working Hard
Proverbs 6:6-8
Some of the things God has to say about work are amusing:
Proverbs 6:6-11 –
Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.
7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.
9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,
11 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.
Proverbs 12:24 –
The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor.
Proverbs 13:3 –
The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied.
Proverbs 18:9 –
The one who is lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.
Proverbs 19:15 –
Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.
Proverbs 20:4 -
The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.
Ecclesiastes 10:18 –
Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 –
… warn those who are idle…
2 Thessalonians 3:10 -
… when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”
Apparently, God created us to work hard, didn’t He?
Find joy in working hard today. You’ll put a smile on God’s face.
Father, thank You for creating me to make a difference in this world. Work with me and walk with me as I fulfill my duties for You today, please. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Proverbs 6:6-11 –
Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.
7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.
9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,
11 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.
Proverbs 12:24 –
The diligent hand will rule, but laziness will lead to forced labor.
Proverbs 13:3 –
The slacker craves, yet has nothing, but the diligent is fully satisfied.
Proverbs 18:9 –
The one who is lazy in his work is brother to a vandal.
Proverbs 19:15 –
Laziness induces deep sleep, and a lazy person will go hungry.
Proverbs 20:4 -
The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.
Ecclesiastes 10:18 –
Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of negligent hands the house leaks.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 –
… warn those who are idle…
2 Thessalonians 3:10 -
… when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.”
Apparently, God created us to work hard, didn’t He?
Find joy in working hard today. You’ll put a smile on God’s face.
Father, thank You for creating me to make a difference in this world. Work with me and walk with me as I fulfill my duties for You today, please. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
October 2
God Loves Work
Psalm 104:19-25
The greatest female swimmer of all time is a Maryland native named Katie Ledecky. Prior to the Paris Olympics, Katie had won 46 world champion medals, including 21 world gold medals and 7 Olympic golds.
She's the only person to qualify for the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 freestyle in a single Olympics, and she's done it twice. Five times, Katie has been awarded the Swimming World’s Female World Swimmer of the Year award. She’s also the only swimmer in history to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor.
What sets Katie apart from the rest of us is not only her talent but her work ethic. As of this writing, the 19 fastest times ever swum in the 1500 all belong to Katie. What's her secret? Katie has embraced the mind-numbing monotony of distance swimming.
Katie Ledecky’s ability to repeat long, hard work-outs day after day reminds me of my favorite quote by G.K. Chesterton:
Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in Spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.
But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun, and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore.
- G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009), 91-92.
God loves work. He sees every effort as an act of creation, of furthering His cause, making things better. Maybe that's a key to finding joy in our work. Seeing it as a delight, an opportunity to contribute to our world and improve things, instead of merely a means to a paycheck, inject your labors with significance. And doing significant things almost always feels joyous.
Look at how Psalm 104 describes God's work in creation:
He made the moon to mark the festivals; the sun knows when to set. 20 You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals stir. 21 The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. 22 The sun rises; they go back and lie down in their dens. 23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until evening. 24 How countless are your works, Lord! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures (Psalm 104:19-24).
Just like lions seek their food because it’s part of how God made them, we go to work because it’s part of how God made us.
Lord, today, I want to do what You've called me to do in a way that makes at least a small part of this world better for Your glory. And I want to do that again and again and again. In my work, I want to imitate Your eternal appetite of infancy. In Jesus' name, Amen!
She's the only person to qualify for the 200, 400, 800, and 1500 freestyle in a single Olympics, and she's done it twice. Five times, Katie has been awarded the Swimming World’s Female World Swimmer of the Year award. She’s also the only swimmer in history to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor.
What sets Katie apart from the rest of us is not only her talent but her work ethic. As of this writing, the 19 fastest times ever swum in the 1500 all belong to Katie. What's her secret? Katie has embraced the mind-numbing monotony of distance swimming.
Katie Ledecky’s ability to repeat long, hard work-outs day after day reminds me of my favorite quote by G.K. Chesterton:
Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in Spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.
But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun, and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore.
- G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2009), 91-92.
God loves work. He sees every effort as an act of creation, of furthering His cause, making things better. Maybe that's a key to finding joy in our work. Seeing it as a delight, an opportunity to contribute to our world and improve things, instead of merely a means to a paycheck, inject your labors with significance. And doing significant things almost always feels joyous.
Look at how Psalm 104 describes God's work in creation:
He made the moon to mark the festivals; the sun knows when to set. 20 You bring darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals stir. 21 The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. 22 The sun rises; they go back and lie down in their dens. 23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until evening. 24 How countless are your works, Lord! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures (Psalm 104:19-24).
Just like lions seek their food because it’s part of how God made them, we go to work because it’s part of how God made us.
Lord, today, I want to do what You've called me to do in a way that makes at least a small part of this world better for Your glory. And I want to do that again and again and again. In my work, I want to imitate Your eternal appetite of infancy. In Jesus' name, Amen!
October 3
How to Make Time Fly
Genesis 29:14-20
Once upon a time, Jacob fell in love with Rachel. His love made his work a joy.
After Jacob had stayed with him a month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters… the younger was named Rachel. 17 …Rachel was shapely and beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I’ll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her (Genesis 29:14b-20).
Time moves slowly when you're bored and quickly when you're fulfilled. The thought of his love for Rachel made Jacob's years seem like hours.
There’s a joy principle in this story: your sense of purpose while working is related to your motivation. That’s part of why the Apostle Paul says, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people” (Colossians 3:23).
Years ago, a buddy of mine was the facilities director at his church. The church held a conference, and during lunch, he needed to move 50 tables from the basement and set them up for the next session. He had four volunteers working with him, and they had an hour to get it all done, but to make it fun, my buddy told them they were going to set the world record by finishing it all in under ten minutes.
Carts with tables flew up the elevator and down the hallways. Chairs were unfolded and set around tables lightning fast. During the entire ten minutes, every volunteer had a smile on his face. And when it was done, there were high fives all around!
I'm pretty sure those volunteers would have felt satisfaction if they'd gotten the tables set up in 30 minutes. But, by elevating their motivation from simple service to setting a world record, my friend also elevated their joy.
The moral of the story? The more satisfying your purpose, the better you feel while accomplishing it.
Father, remind me again how much my work means to You. As Jacob worked for Rachel's hand, today, I purpose to work every hour like I'm working for You. In Jesus' name, Amen!
After Jacob had stayed with him a month, 15 Laban said to him, “Just because you’re my relative, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.”
16 Now Laban had two daughters… the younger was named Rachel. 17 …Rachel was shapely and beautiful. 18 Jacob loved Rachel, so he answered Laban, “I’ll work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
19 Laban replied, “Better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her (Genesis 29:14b-20).
Time moves slowly when you're bored and quickly when you're fulfilled. The thought of his love for Rachel made Jacob's years seem like hours.
There’s a joy principle in this story: your sense of purpose while working is related to your motivation. That’s part of why the Apostle Paul says, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people” (Colossians 3:23).
Years ago, a buddy of mine was the facilities director at his church. The church held a conference, and during lunch, he needed to move 50 tables from the basement and set them up for the next session. He had four volunteers working with him, and they had an hour to get it all done, but to make it fun, my buddy told them they were going to set the world record by finishing it all in under ten minutes.
Carts with tables flew up the elevator and down the hallways. Chairs were unfolded and set around tables lightning fast. During the entire ten minutes, every volunteer had a smile on his face. And when it was done, there were high fives all around!
I'm pretty sure those volunteers would have felt satisfaction if they'd gotten the tables set up in 30 minutes. But, by elevating their motivation from simple service to setting a world record, my friend also elevated their joy.
The moral of the story? The more satisfying your purpose, the better you feel while accomplishing it.
Father, remind me again how much my work means to You. As Jacob worked for Rachel's hand, today, I purpose to work every hour like I'm working for You. In Jesus' name, Amen!
October 4
Work in the Age to Come
Isaiah 65:21-25
Earth has a five-stage timeline. It goes like this: (1) Creation (Genesis 1-2); (2) Fall (Genesis 3); (3) Preparation for redemption (Genesis 4:1 – Revelation 20:3); (4) The Millenium (Revelation 20:4-10); (5) The new heavens and new earth (Revelation 20:11-22:21). People worked pre-fall, and even harder post-fall. During the Millennium (the 1,000-year reign of Christ), we'll continue to work, and during that time, our work will be full of joy.
The prophet Isaiah describes it this way:
People will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They will not build and others live in them; they will not plant and others eat. For my people’s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree. My chosen ones will fully enjoy
the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor without success or bear children destined for disaster, for they will be a people blessed by the Lord along with their descendants. 24 Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle,
but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on my entire holy mountain,” says the Lord (Isaiah 65:21-25).
Notice how profitable your labor will be during this coming age. During this present age, sometimes we build, and someone else gets the benefit. Or, we plant, and someone else eats the fruit. In the Millennium, all your labor will be rewarded.
And notice how purely good it all sounds. “My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.” “They will not labor without success.”
In case you need something to look forward to today, look forward to the incredible age that is to come! Jesus will be living with us, and you will wake up every day looking forward to whatever tasks, labor, or responsibilities you choose or He assigns!
Lord, thank You for the age to come. I want to live fully engaged in what You’ve given me to do today, but I am looking forward to what’s coming! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
The prophet Isaiah describes it this way:
People will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They will not build and others live in them; they will not plant and others eat. For my people’s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree. My chosen ones will fully enjoy
the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor without success or bear children destined for disaster, for they will be a people blessed by the Lord along with their descendants. 24 Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle,
but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on my entire holy mountain,” says the Lord (Isaiah 65:21-25).
Notice how profitable your labor will be during this coming age. During this present age, sometimes we build, and someone else gets the benefit. Or, we plant, and someone else eats the fruit. In the Millennium, all your labor will be rewarded.
And notice how purely good it all sounds. “My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.” “They will not labor without success.”
In case you need something to look forward to today, look forward to the incredible age that is to come! Jesus will be living with us, and you will wake up every day looking forward to whatever tasks, labor, or responsibilities you choose or He assigns!
Lord, thank You for the age to come. I want to live fully engaged in what You’ve given me to do today, but I am looking forward to what’s coming! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
October 5
Be Rich in Good Works
1 Timothy 6:17-19
far above a top 1% global wage earner. Yours probably does, too.
According to the website https://www.givingwhatwecan.org, if you earned $20,000 last year, you’re part of the 1% wealthiest people on earth, and that’s adjusted for the U.S. cost of living.
This week, we've been learning about doing our jobs with joy. We're adding one more element today: good work. The Bible says we that if we are rich, we ought to be rich in good works.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to his friend Timothy:
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, 19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
Not a single one of those people had running water. They never tasted ice cream. Or Starbucks. They never rode in cars, read from smartphones, turned on an air conditioner, or put money into a 401(k). You and I are richer than the richest of them.
Comb carefully through Paul’s paragraph, and you’ll find eight commands and a promise:
The Promise: If you practice these good works, you’ll experience “what is truly life.” In other words, you’ll experience life the way God intended it.
Paul is saying, "Approach life with humble generosity, and you'll experience the kind of joy God had in mind for you."
What might that look like for you today?
Lord, help me to excel in good works today. Help me see people and situations the way You see them. And respond to them in the way You would, were You in my place. Thank You for my riches in glory and my relative riches here on earth. Those riches belong to You, Lord, and so do I. In Jesus' name, Amen!
According to the website https://www.givingwhatwecan.org, if you earned $20,000 last year, you’re part of the 1% wealthiest people on earth, and that’s adjusted for the U.S. cost of living.
This week, we've been learning about doing our jobs with joy. We're adding one more element today: good work. The Bible says we that if we are rich, we ought to be rich in good works.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to his friend Timothy:
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, 19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
Not a single one of those people had running water. They never tasted ice cream. Or Starbucks. They never rode in cars, read from smartphones, turned on an air conditioner, or put money into a 401(k). You and I are richer than the richest of them.
Comb carefully through Paul’s paragraph, and you’ll find eight commands and a promise:
- Don’t be arrogant about your riches. (Not a problem, since we don’t actually think we’re rich.)
- Don’t rely on your wealth. (It’s uncertain. We’re one accident, lay-off, or health crisis from poverty.)
- Rely on God. (He’s our true Provider. And very good at it.)
- Do what is good. (Enough said.)
- Be rich in good works. (I.e., do lots of good.)
- Be generous. (Look for people in need, missions to support, church ministries to fortify, and when you find one, release some of your richest to it.)
- Be willing to share. (Just clarifying what “be generous” means.)
- Store up treasures for the coming age. (Which is what Jesus taught in Matt. 6:19-21.)
The Promise: If you practice these good works, you’ll experience “what is truly life.” In other words, you’ll experience life the way God intended it.
Paul is saying, "Approach life with humble generosity, and you'll experience the kind of joy God had in mind for you."
What might that look like for you today?
Lord, help me to excel in good works today. Help me see people and situations the way You see them. And respond to them in the way You would, were You in my place. Thank You for my riches in glory and my relative riches here on earth. Those riches belong to You, Lord, and so do I. In Jesus' name, Amen!