For the last month we've been sharing four areas in our life that will eventually disappoint us. While not the most uplifting thing to discuss, it is important to keep in mind, especially when we catch ourselves worshipping our earthly work.
Over the next four weeks, we're going to shift to sharing four truths to encourage you in the workforce and your life in general. The first truth we're going to share is: realize that you were created for God.
Satisfaction, meaning, and significance are only found in your identity in Christ. This can be difficult in a world that focuses so much on finding your identity in stuff (ex. Possessions, career, successes, etc.) Having a firm anchor in Christ doesn't stop you from feeling amazing during successes or terrible during failures. However, it does help successes to not intoxicate us or failures to not devastate us.
Do you find your identity in things other than God? Check out this article which discusses finding freedom in our identity:
Courtney Hybiak
Two absolute realities of our life are death and the judgement of God. Death isn't something fun to think about, but uncomfortable realities don't simply disappear if we ignore them. It can be dangerous to live our life ignoring the reality of death.
As Christians, death shouldn't scare us – we know what our eternity looks like. How should we live our lives knowing we will ultimately be judged by God? In Psalm 90, Solomon tells us we need to know how to number (or count) our days and then make the days count.
Is there something you can change in your life to make your days on earth count?
Pursue God's will - This might seem simple, but actually doing it can be more difficult. Sometimes pursuing God's will forces us out of our comfort zone. It's challenging to step out in faith and take a risk.
In Ecclesiastes 11:4, Solomon says, "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap." This is talking about a farmer who never sows his seeds because he's worried about the weather not cooperating. There are things in life that we don't have any control over, but nothing is going to change if we don't take action and trust God in the areas you don't have control over. Is there something in your life that you've been waiting to do because it's "not the right time" or you're too worried about the uncontrollables? If there is, take time this week to pray and ask God for wisdom and discernment, then TRUST Him. Don't be like the farmer Solomon talks about in Ecclesiastes that never sows his seeds.
Over the last couple months, we've been talking about not worshipping work. The first 4 weeks focused on areas in life that will disappoint us. The last few weeks we've focused on truths to live by to encourage you in the workforce and your overall life. The final truth we're going to leave you with is: seek happiness in the present, not the future. It can be so easy to be constantly focused on the future and finding more happiness in different circumstances; however, our happiness shouldn't be focused on our circumstances. Instead, we should focus on our relationship with God and find happiness through Him.
After everything Solomon talked about in Ecclesiastes, he concludes that we are to look to God, fear him and obey his commandments: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
If we do these things, we can seek happiness in our present and not be solely focused on our future. Do you enjoy your life, or are you always living to enjoy it later? Enjoy what you have now, not the potential that you might have in the future.
Remember, don't worship (or serve) your work. Use your work to serve God and others.
For the last 8 weeks, the focus has been on not worshipping work. Before we jump into another topic, take some time to watch this short video about Point B -- a consulting firm that is creating a healthy work-life balance for its employees.
For Our People with Jill Going
Do you have a healthy work-life balance? If your life is solely focused on your work, what are some ways you can create healthy boundaries between your work and home life. With so many more people working from home since COVID and technology allowing us to always have access to our work (emails, etc.), it's even more important to create boundaries (if your job requires you to be "on-call" all the time, find other ways to create a healthy work-life balance).
You'll be surprised how much more productive you are at work when you take the time you need away from work to decompress, hang out with loved ones, etc.
