Weekly Devotional: The Beauty in Work
“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)
The topic of work can oftentimes be a sore subject for many people. It brings up memories of long hours, late nights, stress and fatigue. Whether speaking with a new mother, a corporate CEO or a high school student mowing lawns, it is evident that hard work is costly. So many of us spend our days longing for the weekends and dreading the inevitable Monday grind.
Is working ever worth the personal cost it requires? Anyone who has made a great purchase recently would most likely nod in agreement, but what if work held more value than just the paycheck we receive at the end of the week?
God designed work. He created everything that we know, from galaxies to molecules to all of the things in between, and it was good! In Genesis, we see God hand Adam the responsibility and authority to work and tend to the Garden of Eden. Imagine what it would have been like to visualize, create, build and take pride in caring for something other than yourself, without the painful consequences of sin, just as Adam did. We now, unfortunately, relate to the reality of work after the fall in Genesis 3, when labor became synonymous with sweat and toil.
But God is in the business of redemption! He takes what is broken, painful or misused, and provides healing, love and new direction. God gifted us with the ability to work, create and add value in our world. He is a good Father and a faithful Savior!
When we take time to truly reflect, we realize that most of our complaints regarding work originate not from the work itself, but from what or who we are working for. If you are working for money or comfort alone, you will never be satisfied. If you work only to gain the respect or praise of others, the applause will eventually fade and you will be left disappointed.
If instead you pour out yourself, your ideas, time and inventions to further glorify the Lord, then you will receive a lasting reward. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to, “always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Our God is eternal and offers us a perfect love, one that we never have to earn! He simply wants us, our whole selves with our talents and failures, and chooses to invite us to be a part of His eternal plan.
This changes everything! In relationship with the Lord, we are free to work hard, pursue dreams, revolutionize systems and create beautiful things without having to earn our value, status or worth. We can commit to giving God our best in whatever we do, not out of fear or necessity but out of a position of love. He promises us again and again that devoting our time and talents for His kingdom will never leave us empty or wanting. So, rejoice in the freedom He offers and delight in the work that the Lord has entrusted you to do!
Grand Canyon University is committed to serving the Lord in all that it does. To learn about GCU’s Christian identity and heritage, visit our website or request more information by using the button at the top of this page.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.