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How To Find God in Your Work
from September 2021
Gò0dNews for Everyone
How To Find God in Your Work
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by Dr. Alan Hix
On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed into law a bill making Labor Day a national holiday. The holiday itself was birthed as the results of a series of labor protests and strikes over difficult working conditions surfaced from the Industrial Revolution. Today, this “working man’s holiday” is celebrated with parades, picnics, barbeques, fireworks, and a host of other gatherings.
This Labor Day, as we reflect on over a year of changes in the way in which many people work, I wanted to explore the subject of work in a different way. Have you ever thought about your job (paid or unpaid) as a call from God? We tend to think about “calling” in terms of ministers or those who have a passion for public service (teaching, medicine, etc.). But what about a manufacturing line job, or an office worker, or a position in the service industry? How should Christians view their jobs in terms of their faith?
In Colossians 3:17, the Apostle Paul gives guidance on what our attitude should be toward our work. “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (NLT).
Most people we read about in the Bible did not receive a call to a specific job or profession. The majority of the people we read about followed God through the normal course of life in a variety of professions. Whether they were involved in farming, shepherding, construction, or raising a family and caring for others, they saw all of life as a stage on which they expressed their faith in God.
For most of us, God’s call is in less dramatic ways from some of the experiences we read about in the Bible. We might be prompted by life circumstances or through supporting a family member through caregiving. My own father felt directed to go into Vocational Rehabilitation after spending a lengthy time in a tuberculosis hospital. You might also sense direction through an issue that is frequently on your mind, or by taking stock of your giftedness, and seeing what brings you joy. We can look to our family of faith and our daily devotional life to help us become more sensitive to God’s direction. Even if you do not sense God calling you to a specific job, and you are just doing what you do to provide for your family’s needs, ask yourself the question: “How does my relationship with Christ make me a more dependable, a more conscientious, and a more compassionate worker? How can I be the person people want to work with instead of the one they want to avoid?
This brings us back to the title of this article. You do not “find” God in your work—you bring Him with you through the indwelling presence of Christ. I would encourage every Christian to begin their day with the prayer: “God, reveal yourself in me to those I work with.” That is our true calling!
About The Author Dr. Alan Hix is an Associate Professor of Christian Studies at Shorter University. In addition to being and educator, he has served churches as a pastor, been involved in mission trips to Africa, Canada, and Alaska, and participated in archaeological excavations in Israel for several years.
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Policies issued by COUNTRY Life Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company®, Bloomington, IL. 0519-503HC-15939-12/1/2020This piece has been reproduced with the permission of Life Happens, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping consumers make smart insurance decisions to safeguard their families’ financial futures. Life Happens does not endorse any insurance company, product or advisor. © Life Happens 2018. All rights reserved. 0519-503HC-15939-12/1/2020
