What You Do Matters - The Crosswalk Devotional - July 27
What You Do Matters
By Rachael Adams
“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).
Do you ever think that the work you do doesn’t matter? I have been guilty of believing this lie. Most days, I have my fingers on a computer writing or my mouth near a microphone podcasting. Other times, I run errands, fold laundry, cook meals, make beds, wash dishes, and help with homework. Yet, despite all I accomplish, when people ask me what I do, I respond that I'm just a mom or just a writer.
Like me, many of us are quick to downplay the importance of the work we do, but the reality is, God values and uses our work—no matter what profession (or lack thereof) we have.
Since creation, God has given us work to do. It began with Adam when he was first put in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15). Later, he was banned from the Garden of Eden as a result of his disobedience. God cursed the ground and promised that Adam would only eat of it through painful toil and by the sweat of his brow. We’ve been toiling ever since, but God promises our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). The key words here are “in the Lord.” It is God who makes our work meaningful when we devote it to him.
Let’s look at some biblical examples of the various jobs God used. He used a political leader named Joseph to save his family from famine (Genesis 39), a shepherd named Moses to lead Israel out of bondage and into the promised land (Exodus 3), a farmer named Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian (Judges 6), a homemaker named Hannah to be the mother of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1), a shepherd boy named David to be Israel’s greatest king (1 Samuel 16), a scribe named Ezra to lead the return to Judah and to write some of the Bible (Ezra), a slave girl name Esther to save her people from massacre (Esther), a peasant girl named Mary to be the mother of Christ (Luke 1), a tax collector named Matthew to be an apostle and gospel writer (Matthew 9), a physician named Luke to be a companion of Paul and a gospel writer (Colossians 4), and a fisherman named Peter to be an apostle, a leader of the early church, and writer of two New Testament letters (Matthew 4).
I imagine each of these individuals had days that felt menial and tiring, but they continued working faithfully at whatever task God placed before them. If God used all of these people in the midst of their ordinary work in such mighty ways, he can certainly use what you do in mighty ways too.
Scripture tells us that whatever we do, we should do with all our heart because it is the Lord we are serving (Colossians 3:23-24). This mindset shift helps me tremendously. When our assignments feel mundane or the fruit of our labor doesn’t seem evident, it is important to adjust our perspective so that we see our work as another way to serve God. Ultimately, this means doing our daily work out of love for him.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Ask God to open your eyes to see him in the midst of your daily jobs and chores. No matter what work you do, pray God helps you realize your significant contribution.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for giving me your work to do in the world. Help me to view everything I do as an opportunity to serve your holy work. Give me a new sense of purpose for each job and show me the fruit of my labor. Help me see how each task can glorify you and yield eternal results. Amen.
Further Reading:
Colossians 3:23-24, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Ephesians 2:10, John 5:17
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Tara Moore
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