Your Work Matters预览

WHAT’S IN A C-A-R-E-E-R?

Many Christians feel their work lives and making Christ famous are incompatible. They think: How can I glorify God when I am sitting behind a desk at an insurance office? How can I make Him famous when I am picking up trash on the street, cutting hair, teaching school, or drilling teeth?

Do you believe you have to have a particular career to make an impact for Christ and glorify God? Is making a difference for Him reserved for “special people” such as pastors and missionaries? Today I hope you will realize that you can make a difference for Christ right where you are. Take a look at the following C-A-R-E-E-R acrostic to help you see just what’s in a career and how God can use your career to glorify Him.

C – Character

Your character is the greatest asset you can bring to your workplace. Nothing is more important than your character to build your integrity and make Christ known. It is the first and most important value in any organization. Through Christ-like character, you have the opportunity to impact others.

A – Attitude

Your attitude about work starts with acknowledging that God instituted work. When He first created Adam, He placed him in the garden for a specific purpose—not just to enjoy the garden, not just to eat the fruit, but also to “work it and take care of it.” Work is not a result of the curse! Fall or no fall, our work was part of God’s original plan. When you acknowledge this, you can glorify God with a great attitude, rather than grumbling about how horrible it is to work.

R- Relationships

Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” and 1 John 4:7 says, “Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” The greatest witness you will have at work is dependent on how you treat your co-workers. Make it your goal to live at peace with everyone at work. This is another great way to make Christ famous.

E – Excellence

People are watching to see if you are a genuine Christ follower. No matter where you are, others are watching to determine if your faith is real or if you’re an imposter. One of the best ways you can bring God glory is to do your work with excellence. First Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

E – Experience

God can use all the experiences in your life to bring Him glory. Even if you don’t think your present career is thrilling, exciting, or that it suits your gifts and talents, when you acknowledge that God does not waste any of our experiences, but that He uses all of them so we can glorify Him more fully, your work will take on new meaning. Your current job or career is not just a meaningless in-between place until something better comes along; it’s an assignment from the Lord. Pray that He will give you pleasure in His assignment until He moves you.

R – Rest

Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work...” (Exodus 20:8-9). Work loses its luster when it becomes a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week focus. A weekly 24-hour fast from your phone and computer will help you stay passionate about work. When you unplug from work, it’s a sign that you trust the Lord to take care of business in His timing. Passionate work is a product that comes from being with Christ daily and weekly in Sabbath rest.

I hope you are encouraged to view your corner of the world as a place to make Jesus famous. People are everywhere and people everywhere need Jesus. God has designated you as a minister at your place of employment. Shine for Him. After all, you are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).