2. God is using your workplace to focus your heart.
Paul was compelled and controlled by the love of Christ. Christ’s love set him in motion to do great things. It should also move us. Gospel change starts inward in the deepest parts of our souls and works outward.
When we are listless in our work. When we are beaten down and uninspired. When we are tempted to give up. When we are tempted to reward the abrasiveness of our boss with subpar work, this is when we remember, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
3. God is using your workplace to focus your hands.
Our hands are the instruments of our heart. They express outwardly what we believe inwardly. Our work ought to show we have a higher calling. It ought to say that something greater than earthly reward motivates it. The quality of our work should glorify God. Dorothy Sayers said, “No crooked table legs or ill-fitting drawers ever, I dare swear, came out of the carpenter’s shop at Nazareth.”
Our work is ultimately an offering to God (Romans 12:1). If work is done just for promotion, recognition or advancement, we will always be discouraged and disappointed. God is worthy of us doing great things for him each and every day as an act of worship and praise. Tune out the distractions and obstacles, focus on God and do quality work only he can appropriately reward.
4. God is using your workplace to focus your love.
It’s not just what we do but how we do it. Your work and how you do it affects other people. Some produce great products, but in the process they run all over others. Our work for the glory of God ought to serve those around us. We serve others by what we make and how we make it. Our work ought to be empowered by the Spirit and filled with the fruit of the Spirit: The fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23).
Imagine how different and enjoyable that vapid workplace might be if the fruit of the Spirit were manifested there. Well it starts with you. Pray for it. Seek after it. If you think your work is too small to make a difference, then consider the great effect of the kindness and mercy one man in a field had on his employees (Ruth 2:4) and a couple of poor widows.
