I was raised in a family with a strong work ethic. You were expected to work long and hard. You earned your income by being on time, doing your job and staying out of trouble. Great value was placed on being honest and above reproach. It was the way to get ahead in life. Through the example he set, my father taught us those principles. He worked for the same company for over 40 years. In that time, he made his way up through the ranks from a part-time night janitor to the general superintendent in charge of all operations for a large meat processing plant that employed over three thousand people.

As I was making my way through college and then graduate school, I spent my summer and winter breaks working as a clerk in the beef cooler department at the slaughterhouse where my dad worked. Not a very glamorous job to be sure, but it paid well. Each morning during the summer, I made my way into work at 3:30 am to start my day. It was a cold -10°f in the beef coolers, so staying awake wasn’t really much of a problem. But what I learned through those work experiences has helped shape my views on the value of work. I’ve also come to better understand the call of God to apply myself to whatever work I do with integrity and a deep commitment to do my work with excellence. In my preparation for vocational ministry, the reality of life in the slaughterhouse has taught me a great deal about how each of us should approach the work we do each day.

As we reflect on our everyday jobs, there are several scriptural principles we need to remind ourselves of from time to time that serve as the fundamental motivation behind the work we do. First, and most importantly, we need to remember who it is we really work for. As the Apostle Paul shared with the church at Colossae: “Work from the heart for your real Master …. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ” (Colossians 3:23–24, MSG). There is an intrinsic value that God applies to work, and the Bible is replete with challenges to be diligent in the work we do and not be lazy (Proverbs 12:27; 13:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:10). Through our work, we are able to care for the needs of our family as well as the needs of others (Ephesians 4:28). Actually, the Bible even goes so far as to say, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8, niv). Those strong words reflect just how serious the Lord is when it comes to the importance of working and caring for our family.

The work we do must also have a greater purpose behind it than simply making money and paying bills. It’s important for each of us to not only understand that who we ultimately work for matters, but also that how we work matters. God has determined that there is a deeper, inherent value in the honest, hard-working eff ort we apply to the work we do (Proverbs 12:14; Colossians 1:10). We are called to approach our work with the awareness that we’re representatives and witnesses for the Lord wherever we go. The Apostle Paul writes, “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17, NLT). Therefore, we need to strive for excellence in the workplace regardless of the specific nature or pay scale associated with our jobs.

For Christians, there’s no such thing as a truly secular job. If God is our ultimate employer and if we’re given unique opportunities in the marketplace to be an example and witness for the Lord, then we must conclude that through our daily work there is a true sense of calling behind our vocation. Because we’re called to honor God in all things, how we approach our current job situations or vocations has deep spiritual significance. We need to examine how we’re preparing ourselves for each new workday. Be sure to take time on your way to work this week to remind yourself who you ultimately work for and look for opportunities to represent the Lord in your dealings with others.

It is impossible for a Christian to have a secular job. If you follow Jesus and you are doing what you do in His name, then it is no longer secular work; it’s sacred. You are there; God is there. The difference is our awareness.
~ Rob Bell