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We spend most of our lives working. On average, we spend about 13 years in school—roughly 16,000 hours—then four years in college at a minimum (5,400 hours), and approximately 40 years working (about 83,200 hours). That's a massive portion of our lives.
Yet so much of this work can feel meaningless. Even the wisest person in the world outside of Jesus felt this way. In Ecclesiastes 2:17, Solomon said:
"I hated life because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless. A chasing after the wind."
Many of you probably feel this way about your schoolwork, your studies, or your job. You wake up every morning and do the same thing over and over again. Maybe you have a boring teacher, a demanding boss, or tasks you simply don't want to do. Without God in your life, it's genuinely hard to find purpose in it all.
But God gives us purpose in our work. I want to share three ways He does this.
Every single day when we wake up, we need to remember that work is God's way of giving us what we need. In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul writes:
"The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."
This verse reminds us of work's importance. We work so we can eat, make money, and take care of our families.
If you're not working yet, your parents are working hard to provide for you—putting food on your table, keeping a roof over your head. Thank them for that. And understand that someday you'll be in their shoes. The habits you're establishing now will affect you for the rest of your life. If you're lazy now, you'll likely be lazy in your future job. If you're a hard worker now, you'll probably work hard later.
I want to especially honor the parents and moms who stay home to care for kids and families. That's not a meaningless job—it's probably the hardest work. You're not getting paid financially, but you're providing for your family in countless ways. That work is deeply important.
When you have a job or when you go to school, remember to thank God that He's providing for you. Thank your parents for the sacrifices they've made.
In 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul speaks with strong language about this principle:
"Anyone who does not provide for their relatives and especially for their own household has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
This is convicting. God takes seriously the responsibility to provide for those we love.
We also work to be a testimony to those around us. In Philippians 2:14, Paul writes:
"Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."
As Christians, when we work, we should do our best job without complaining or grumbling. I know this isn't always easy. Some of you have jobs you hate, or bosses who aren't kind to you. But when people see that you work hard, don't complain, and do everything for God, they will notice the difference. You will shine.
The world is full of complainers and people who don't want to work. When we work with a good attitude and strong ethic, it stands out.
Consider Joseph in Genesis. When he served Potiphar, an Egyptian master:
"The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered... When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his own household and he entrusted to him all that he owned."
Joseph worked as unto God. He worked hard without complaining. Potiphar noticed he was different from everyone else—and promoted him to second in command.
Later, when Joseph was thrown into prison, did he complain? No. Genesis 39:20-21 tells us:
"While Joseph was in the prison, the Lord was with him. He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden... The warden put Joseph in charge of all those in the prison."
Everywhere Joseph went, whatever job he had, God gave him the courage and ability to work hard and maintain a good attitude. He was a testimony wherever he was.
When people see you at school or work and notice that you don't complain, that you work hard, that you have integrity—they'll ask themselves, "Why is this person different?" And that opens the door for you to point them to God.
Think about this: Would you rather work with people who grumble, complain, and argue—or people who work hard, work joyfully, and have a good attitude? The choice is clear.
So ask yourself: Does my testimony at work and school reflect Jesus? Or do I look like everybody else around me?
I'll be honest—I struggle with this too. Sometimes I go home and vent to my wife about my day. But I have to remember: I'm a testimony. If you struggle with grumbling or complaining, confess it to someone. Ask them to pray for you. Tell God, "Help me to be a good testimony. Help me to be like Joseph."
Finally, we work to glorify God. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul says:
"Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
When you sit at your desk, do your work for God's glory. When you're in a boring class or struggling with a difficult boss, do it for God's glory—without complaining, with all your heart.
If you're at home with kids and they're having their twentieth tantrum, make that meal for God's glory. Do everything for the glory of God.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16:
"Let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
When people saw Joseph, they couldn't help but glorify God because Joseph was working for God.
In Colossians 3:23, Paul reminds us:
"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."
Remember: You're serving the Lord, not men.
There was a monk named Brother Lawrence who wrote The Practice of the Presence of God. He realized that every little task—even washing dishes—could bring glory to God.
He said:
"I can glorify God and worship God just as much when I'm washing dishes as when I'm on my knees praying or sitting in church."
He also wrote:
"We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God. The things that we hate doing, we should do that for the love of God. One regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed."
And:
"Men invent means and methods of coming at God's love. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business holy for the love of God?"
People asked Brother Lawrence, "How do you have such a good attitude doing things nobody else wants to do?"
He answered, "I do it all for the love of God. I do it to glorify God because I know He's with me in this moment."
There's a song called "Hands on the Plow" by Bill and Gloria Gaither. It says:
"Well, I know how you are feeling. I've been there myself. Crying, complaining never ever helps. Get back to basics and buckle down. Keep your eyes on Jesus and hands on the plow."
I love that last line: "Keep your eyes on Jesus and hands on the plow."
As we work, whatever God asks us to do, keep your eyes on Jesus so He can help us do it with Him and for Him—to be a testimony to everyone around us, to glorify Him.
Do you keep your eyes on Jesus, or do you focus on how hard the job is? Do you focus on people around you who aren't helping? When you keep your eyes on Jesus, He gives you the strength, energy, attitude, and everything you need to do everything for Him.
Whether you're in college, high school, middle school, working 60-70 hours a week, working part-time, at a job you love or a job you hate—keep your eyes on Jesus and keep your hands on the plow.
You know who never complained and always worked with all His heart? Jesus Christ. He did everything to bring glory to His Father. Even when He was on His knees washing His disciples' feet—can you imagine that job?—He did it without complaining, with all His heart, to glorify God.
Jesus can help us do the same.
When we understand what Jesus did for us and the work He accomplished on the cross, it gives us motivation to do everything for His glory. Every step He took to that cross, He never complained. He took the nails, the crown of thorns, the whip—with a good attitude. He died and rose again to bring us salvation.
In response, we should do everything to glorify Him.
I'm proud of all of you who serve the Lord in different ways—those on mission trips, those helping with ministries, and all of you in general. I know you're at different seasons of life. Some of you are in hard seasons; some are experiencing God's blessings. Keep your eyes on Jesus and keep your hands on the plow.
Remember:
So in your lives—at school, at work, in everything you do—do it all for the glory of God. Be like Joseph. Be like Brother Lawrence. Most importantly, be like Jesus.
