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Presented by Lisa Bishop
Do you see yourself as one sent by God in your job? Many Christians don’t. We tend to see our jobs as a means to an end. A way to financially provide for ourselves and our families or to gain significance. But God has placed you where you are with a purpose. And while he gave you gifts and talents to apply to your work, our ultimate purpose as followers of Jesus is to point to him in our everyday lives.
One way we can do that in the workplace is to do our work with excellence.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24).
Whatever you do, and yes that includes what you do on the job. In the original language, the words “with all your heart” means “to carry out or perform an action with enthusiasm.” And when we aim to perform with energetic interest at work, we honor the Lord.
What is your mindset around your role at work? Are you working with all your heart or punching a timecard, doing just enough to get by?
Faith calls us to the highest standard in all aspects of our lives. Scripture challenges us to raise the bar in how we perform in our jobs, not just doing the bare minimum but going the extra mile. Are you known for your stellar work ethic? If you are a follower of Jesus, your work should surpass mediocre; you are to strive for excellence.
Doing your best work is not the same as perfection. I can speak from experience, perfectionism can lead to a host of issues, one being that others may not think they can live up to your impossible standards. That can leave people feeling discouraged. While perfection is not the goal, excellence is.
How we do our job matters because not only are unbelievers watching us at work to see if we will set a good example, but our heavenly Father sees too.
Are you giving your best efforts on the job, or do you need to step it up a notch or two? Working heartily at all you do is part of God’s mission for you.