Crossway
Bryan Chappel
October 02, 2022
Introduction
Most Christians spend their working lives hoping that God will find some way to use their efforts for his priorities.
They may not be able to see how God can use what they consider their daily grind or, by contrast, the glorious pursuits for which they are passionate. Still, because they are God’s people, they pray that he will provide some real connection between their work and his mission for our world.
Isn’t that what we all pray? We pray for the connection because we question, Is there any purpose in my work beyond a paycheck?
Is there some mission for me beyond making money? Am I responsible before God only to put in the hours to fill up my bank account, pay the mortgage, feed my family, and not feel guilty about the size of the check in the offering plate? Isn’t there some greater purpose for me that would give my life’s efforts dignity beyond how I appear to others or think about myself?
These are common and persistent questions that weigh on sincere Christians until they recognize that God’s people are being called to his mission not just in Sunday worship but in the everyday workplace.
A key aspect of God’s everyday grace is his giving us the means and opportunity to show his character, demonstrate his care, and fulfill his purposes.
These are common and persistent questions that weigh on sincere Christians until they recognize that God’s people are being called to his mission not just in Sunday worship but in the everyday workplace.
God calls us to use the work skills, talents, and resources that he provides for extending the influence of the kingdom of God into every dimension of our lives and world.
Understanding this calling enables us to see that our jobs have a dignity we may never have previously understood.
God calls us to use the work skills, talents, and resources that he provides for extending the influence of the kingdom of God into every dimension of our lives and world.
Understanding this calling enables us to see that our jobs have a dignity we may never have previously understood.
A few years ago, I was speaking at a career conference for Christian college students.
Because my background and training are in journalism, the topic of my talk was the calling of Christian journalism.
I tried to explain to the students how Christian journalists can have a powerful influence on their culture not only by writing articles on Christian subjects but also by bringing a Christian perspective to their descriptions of human relationships and world events.
I tried to explain to the students how Christian journalists can have a powerful influence on their culture not only by writing articles on Christian subjects but also by bringing a Christian perspective to their descriptions of human relationships and world events.
After my talk, a young woman came up to me and said, “Your talk just made me feel guilty, because the kind of journalism I want to do is to write articles for fashion magazines.
I have a love for fashion, but I know it’s vacuous and vain and doesn’t honor God at all.”
“Listen,” I said, “if you think what you’re going to be doing for a career is vacuous and vain, please do not give your life to that work.
But if you are able to express the creativity and beauty of God as a fashion writer, you could be a wonderful Christian influence on an industry that needs to talk about beauty without vulgarity.”
Our sense of our life’s purpose changes dramatically when we begin to recognize that all kinds of work possess qualities of divine mission — not just the jobs of preachers or missionaries, and not just those of CEOs and brain surgeons.
Our sense of our life’s purpose changes dramatically when we begin to recognize that all kinds of work possess qualities of divine mission — not just the jobs of preachers or missionaries, and not just those of CEOs and brain surgeons
God is calling the cop and the carpenter and the concrete layer to experience the dignity of their work as he uses their jobs to help others, improve lives, and spread the influence of his kingdom in the world.
In the skills we express, in the products we make, in the way we work, in the impact of our labors on society and on the relationships affected by our work, we are instruments of God’s redeeming work in a broken world.
God intends to demonstrate his grace through us.
In the skills we express, in the products we make, in the way we work, in the impact of our labors on society and on the relationships affected by our work, we are instruments of God’s redeeming work in a broken world.
God intends to demonstrate his grace through us.
We need to claim this truth so that we don’t belittle or disparage our own vocation with, “I’m just a tentmaker.” What? You mean like Paul?
- “Just a fisherman.” What? You mean like Peter?
- “Just a carpenter.” What? You mean like Jesus?
In every vocation, we have the ability to take the image of God into the work that we do and, in doing so, help people understand the goodness of who God is, the care that he has for us, and the diverse professions he has created for the care of his world and its people.
This book is designed to help us understand and more fully experience personal dignity and divine purpose in the varied jobs that we do to serve God and all that he loves.
No matter how isolated our Monday work may seem from our Sunday worship, God is yet providing his grace for the glory and the grind of our jobs.
When we realize that every honest job exists on the holy ground of God’s calling, then we will rejoice in the mission we have at work.
Such joy invigorates us for every task, whether menial or majestic, with the understanding that each can bring glory to the one who sent his Son to serve us.
… each can bring glory to the one who sent his Son to serve us.
Ultimately, we do not serve a company or a boss or even our family’s needs, but our Lord, who smiles upon our labors, values our sweat, and dries our tears with the grace of knowing he will use every effort that honors him.
Even when we have not considered or advanced his honor, his work is not done.
Instead, he offers pardon and the grace to try again with the assurance that our labors for him are not in vain.
The new contract without hidden clauses, the lunchtime conversation kept clean, the cleanup job that cuts no corners, the expense report that is true, the hate speech not entered, the rage not expressed, the architecture kept beautiful, the benefits plan made fair, the government policy that is just, the discipline procedure that is merciful — all bring glory to the one who shows his character and care through his people.
All such work done and evil shunned come from the heart of a God who has shown us his grace in his word so that we can know and show his grace at work.
All such work done and evil shunned come from the heart of a God who has shown us his grace in his word so that we can know and show his grace at work.
About the author
Bryan Chapell is a bestselling author of many books, including Christ-Centered Preaching and Holiness by Grace.
He is pastor emeritus of the historic Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois; president emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary; and president of Unlimited Grace Media (unlimitedgrace.com), which broadcasts daily messages of gospel hope in many nations.
Bryan Chapell is the author of Grace at Work: Redeeming the Grind and Glory of Your Job.
Originally published at https://www.crossway.org on October 2, 2022.
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