"Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches." - 1 Corinthians 7:17
Throughout the last few months, we've been looking at God's plan for work. During these studies, we've discovered that God's plan for work is different than society's perspectives on work. This month, we'll be wrapping up the first part of the book, "Every Good Endeavor" which has been on God's plan for work. This has been an important section because it sets the foundation for the rest of the study.
So far, we've been focused on looking through Genesis to understand the design, dignity, and pattern of work. However, we're now going to shift to looking at the New Testament, specifically the writings of Paul, to gain a deeper insight on how God provides purpose for our work by what He calls each of us to do. Just like in previous chapters, this might require us to reshape how we view certain things.
While we typically view God's calling for us as an individual thing, it can also be a communal thing. The reasoning for it being communal as well is because it brings you into a relationship with God and other followers of Christ. As Christians, we are all part of the body of Christ. Our calling and response to that calling has an impact on others.
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." - Colossians 3:15
Just as God equips Christians for building up the Body of Christ, He also equips people with talents and gifts for all kinds of work outside of the church. God doesn't just care about building up churches, He cares about building up the human community – which is partially why we are going through this book study to learn about how our secular jobs can be connected to work for the Kingdom. This is where a mindset shift is needed. We should view our work as a way of service to God and our neighbors. We're told to love our neighbors, and our work can be a way to do this, but how?
Instead of focusing on what will make you the most money and/or give you the highest status, ask yourself:
How, with my existing abilities and opportunities, can I be of greatest service to other people, knowing what I do of God's will and of human need?
Maybe for you, you are called into a job with high status and high pay opportunities (I'm not saying any job with high pay is a bad thing). However, the point I want to emphasize is the money and status should not be why you chose the job. If the purpose of your work is to serve and exalt something beyond yourself, then you actually have a better reason to use your talent and ambition! When your work goes beyond just money and status, you are less likely to experience burnout because you aren't just focused on yourself.
As Christians, another mindset shift we need to have is not viewing people called into ministry as higher to God than those in "worldly" or "secular" jobs. It can be so easy to put those in ministry on a pedestal, but they are just like other Christians, they were just called into a different field than us. In the chapter, Timothy Keller gives an example from Martin Luther saying, "when you pray for 'daily bread' you are praying for everything that contributes to your having and enjoying your daily bread… You must open up and expand your thinking, so that it reaches not only as far as the flour bin and baking oven but also out over the broad fields, the farmlands, and the entire country that produces, processes, and conveys to us our daily bread and all kinds of nourishment."
We need people in all kinds of jobs including farmers, bakers, retailers, website programmers, truck drivers, and more. Isn't it beautiful that God created us with all types of gifts and talents so we can have this community together?! All of these jobs contribute to society – we need more than the jobs that people idolize! God has called us to many different things: modest jobs like farming; being a father or mother; basic social roles/tasks like voting. These are all important!
When we have a misunderstanding of salvation, it can lead to having the incorrect view where secular work is seen as unimportant and religious work is exalted. In Romans it talks about "grace by faith" instead of our salvation being works-based. We must remember that religious work, while good, doesn't magically earn you favor with God; therefore, it shouldn't be seen as superior to other forms of labor. With the gospel, we are free from the pressure of having to prove ourselves and secure our identity through work. Thanks to the gospel , we are also free from a condescending attitude toward less sophisticated labor and envy over more "exalted" work. Religious work isn't the only work that can be used to worship God, secular work can be used as a way to worship God as well! Instead of seeking status and worth in our jobs, we can shift our mindset to view our work on a way to love God and love others.
Be honest with yourself: if you had to choose between a job that makes less money, but helps more people versus a job that makes more money but helps less people, which would you choose?
In today's society a lot of people would choose the job with higher pay. I would strongly caution you to not seek a job just for the money. Again, if it's a job you feel called to do and it just so happens to come with a high paycheck, that's different. However, seeking a job just for the money can easily lead to burnout because it has been proven that money does not magically produce happiness.
Once you realize that your work is a way to love and serve others, you can be more fulfilled in your work, even if it is not a high-status job! Your daily work is ultimately an act of worship to the God who called and equipped you to do it. We do not have to do direct ministry or nonprofit charitable work in order to love others through our job – which is a beautiful design by God!
