The Girl Next Door ☎︎: Whatever

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17

The simple word, “whatever”, included in this command brings us so much freedom, relief, and excitement. As long as we work with God-given purpose as our motivation, it does not matter where we work, with whom we work, or for whom we work.

If we glorify God in our work, we can follow our passions, even if they lead us to a secular career.

Before this realization, I had the mindset that those who worked as pastors, missionaries, and Christian education teachers glorified God with their work more than waiters, businessmen, and lawn mowers. I could not have been farther from the truth! God can use a businessman just as much as He can use a pastor for the Kingdom.

It’s not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it’s why he does it. The motive is everything. A.W. Tozer

Effective Kingdom work does not depend on an earthly job. I can sell T-Shirts and still be participating in a sacred career. With that being said, God has given me a passion for writing. Every time I write, whether for a business or church, I plan on making my career sacred by living for the purpose for which I am created, to glorify God and make His Name known. Let's run with this example.

I intend on working for a business that hire professional writers to help produce various texts such as emails, manuals, blogs, websites, and newsletters. While this business may not be a ministry or a nonprofit organization, I can still glorify God at my workplace. I may not be writing articles that pertain to the Gospel, but my behavior and attitude will represent it. I may not be able to verbally proclaim His Name amongst my coworkers, but I can walk so closely with the Lord that others will see Christ in me.

I will work hard and pursue excellence. I will show up to work everyday on time. I will go above and beyond my responsibilities even if that means being the last to leave the office. Dedication and determination will set me apart from my co-workers. My writings will not be done halfheartedly or incompletely, but will be the best possible writings I can produce within the guidelines I have been given. I must be intentional and meticulous with my writing. When editing, I cannot get lazy or overlook even the tiniest of mistakes. I will proofread every text I produce to ensure that the writing is in its best condition. When God gives me a task, I am called to work at it with all my might. People will see my purpose of glorifying God in the end product of my writings.

I will be humble, not proud, when I write. Even when I feel like I have learned all that I can in my field, I will still desire to grow my skills through experience and by following the example of those above me. I will take every opportunity I can get to strengthen my weaknesses whether that be by listening to critiques from my boss, attending writing conferences or workshops, or participating in business meetings. When I have the position to teach another, I must remember that I can learn from them just as much as they can learn from me. I am ultimately working for my Master, the Lord, and not for men. I work not for approval or compliments, but because I am already accepted by the Lord.

When I practice dedication, excellence, and humility, eventually people will see that I am different. They will ask me for the reason for the hope that I have. If I work hard enough, I may move up in my career and have an even greater influence on those around me. I may even start earning more money so I can give even more away to the church, the poor, and the sick. My work can become a platform from which I can share the Gospel.

While striving to fulfill our purpose of glorifying God in whatever we do, I know there will be times when we will be tempted to make our passion our purpose. We may get caught up in the attention we receive from other people, the strength of our abilities, or the money that results from our hard work. May we remember our purpose for working, to make Him famous.

The moment our passion for our talent becomes our motivation for working I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill us with an emptiness, convict us of our sin, and help redirect our priorities.

May we love God above all else. May we remember that we are but jar of clays filled with God’s treasure so that others may see that He is responsible for our gifts and abilities. If we walk in fellowship with the Lord and cultivate an intimate relationship with Him, then no matter what we do, we will be integrating Biblical thought and practice into our work by our godly example.