Whatever You Do

The book of Ecclesiastes is Solomon’s search for true meaning in life. He covers the pursuit of pleasure, work, possessions, and even wisdom itself to find fulfillment. And what’s his conclusion? That all pursuits and efforts—even the “good” ones—amount to nothing if they’re done apart from centering our lives on God. This doesn’t mean we’re supposed to sit at home and do nothing—the point is that in whatever we do, we will only find purpose and satisfaction if we do it to serve and please God. Otherwise, our efforts are as meaningless as chasing the wind, a memorable description used six times in the book’s twelve chapters.

Do you, like me, ever have days where what you do seems meaningless? You put so much effort into something, and then, poof! It’s over and done. Either it didn’t work, you didn’t get any praise, or nobody cared. Or maybe you’re in a season where work itself doesn’t seem to matter. You don’t love it—it’s hard, boring, or it feels below your pay grade. Some days really do feel like we’re chasing the wind.

It’s easy to get discouraged, which is why one of my favorite sermons is “Passion, Purpose, and Designer Jeans” from pastor Louie Giglio. It’s based on Colossians 3:23, which says, “In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.” Louie explained that it’s not so much preachers and full-time ministry people who will win the world over to following Jesus; it’s the daily interactions of Christian women and men living out their calling in the real world. I loved when Julie Chen Moonves was on my podcast, and we talked about a line she wrote in her book But First, God that really struck me: “There is no such thing as a secular job. Any job can be a job where you give glory to God.”3 Amen.

Our work, no matter what it is, does matter for growing God’s kingdom. Whether you want to be a mom, an educator, a medical professional, or a maker of designer jeans, all of it fits into the “in all the work you are doing” idea. And it’s key that we don’t do that work half-heartedly. When we work the best we can as if doing it for the Lord, this then helps fulfill God’s call on us to become more and more like His Son. Our work should be honorable; it should make us stand out from the crowd. It should show kindness and generosity to others—in other words, we should be a blessing no matter what we do or where we do it.

Some days are hard, sister. The work feels endless. But when we’re seeking God and working for Him in whatever we do, not only can He give us joy and satisfaction in our work, He can use it for His good and His glory. He can use us and even the so-called meaningless tasks in our days to bless others and to help them see Him in us.

Find Your Way

We often think people find God through some big moment at church, a conference, or a retreat of some sort. Yes, they do, but more often, they find Him when they see how God is changing us. It’s important to minister at home—that’s where our ministry needs to start, but then it should follow us into our neighborhoods and workplaces. And since it happens in our day-to-day living, whatever we do, consider how you can show God’s love to those around you.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the wisdom to know how to serve You best in my everyday life. I want to be a light in a dark world. Help me shine for You in whatever I do. Amen.

*1. Dora Weithers, “Six Habits as Useless as Chasing the Wind,” LetterPile, updated May 31, 2023, https://letterpile.com.

2. Louie Giglio, “Passion, Purpose, and Designer Jeans,” YouTube, December 25, 2014, https://youtu.be/kTCgrP7mJkc.

3. Sadie Robertson Huff, “I Needed My Life to Be Turned Upside Down! | FULL VIDEO with Sadie Robertson Huff & Julie Chen Moonves,” WHOA That’s Good Podcast.