One day, St. Francis of Assisi was working in his garden. Someone asked him what he would do if he learned that Jesus was returning that afternoon.

Francis replied, “I would finish hoeing my garden.” You see, Francis was so utterly and completely convinced that his work was God’s will that he saw no reason to change a thing. He saw the dignity of his work.

Each week you and I will spend roughly half of our 112 waking hours working if we include getting ready and commute time. Yet many, if not most, of us do not have a good theology of work. We ask ourselves: Is work a blessing or a curse?

The Bible presents a very different vision of work than many Christians have been taught, and that’s why it’s #67 on my list of 70 things every man needs to know.

When God created Adam, He gave him meaningful work to do before sin entered the world. This is important. Work matters. The desires to work, create, build, serve, solve problems, and contribute are part of God’s original design for men. Solomon said, “So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot” (Ecclesiastes 3:22a, NIV).

Work itself is not the curse. The curse is that, because of the Fall, we must now do our work while feeling the prick of thorns (see Genesis 3:17–19).

So, what is a good theology of work?

First, every vocation is holy to the Lord.

Martin Luther said that a Christian shoemaker serves God not by putting little crosses on shoes, but by making good shoes. Luther’s point was that excellence in ordinary work is itself an act of worship.

We often divide life into sacred and secular categories. We think pastors and missionaries do God’s work, while accountants, plumbers, teachers, farmers, salesmen, engineers, and business owners do ordinary work. But the Bible makes no such distinction between sacred and secular work. The word secular simply means “of this age” or “worldly.”

Scripture teaches that whatever we do, we are to do it unto the Lord (see Colossians 3:23a below). God is interested in everything we do, not just what happens in church buildings. A Christian electrician can glorify God as much as a Christian pastor. A Christian truck driver can honor God as much as a missionary. Or, as Francis Schaeffer put it, to be a teacher at a Christian school is no greater calling than to be a plumber or a businessman or anything else.

In other words, every vocation is holy to the Lord, and our daily tasks can be acts of worship when done with the right heart.

Second, every man is ordained for ministry in the workplace.

A man once told me, “All my life, all I ever wanted to be was a high school math teacher. Finally, my dream came true, but I found two problems. First, my students were coming to class with problems math can’t solve. Second, the Christian teachers didn’t know each other. God has given me a vision and calling to address those problems.”

And then he said something I will never forget. He said, “I am an ordained math teacher.”

Isn’t that great? He understood a biblical principle that brings joy and satisfaction no matter what we do. Paul put it like this: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23a, NIV).

God has strategically placed you where you are. A man once told me, “I am a disciple of Jesus disguised as a janitor.” When we understand that our real boss is the Lord, we can throw ourselves into our work with our whole hearts.

Happy is the man who isn’t dwelling on, “How can I find something better?” but asks, “How can I serve God with my whole heart in my work?”

So what does this mean to you? If you’re a salesman, you’re an ordained salesman. Are you a truck driver? You are an ordained truck driver. A farmer? You’re ordained. Why? Because whatever you do, God has ordained you to do it.

Third, work is not merely a platform for ministry. Work is ministry.

Imagine a craftsman who pours his heart into creating a bespoke piece of furniture. Every cut, every joint, and every finish shouts excellence and reflects the glory of God.

While work certainly provides opportunities to share Christ, the work itself is an act of ministry. In other words, we don’t just endure work until a coffee break so we can share Jesus with a coworker. There is intrinsic value in the work itself.

If you are a server at a restaurant, every customer is an opportunity to demonstrate patience, kindness, and excellence.

If you are a manager, every conflict between two employees presents an opportunity to model the love of Christ.

If you are a salesman, every appointment is divine, and every sale is sacred.

If you are a business owner, every decision is an opportunity to reflect God’s character.

The quality of your work, the integrity of your actions, and the way you treat people are all expressions of your faith.

So, whether you’re fixing cars, teaching students, or managing a team, your work is ministry.

Fourth, to succeed at work but fail at home is to fail completely.

Most of us tend to compartmentalize our families while we’re at work. But we don’t compartmentalize our work while we’re with our families.

Our bodies are home, but our minds are still at work. We continue solving problems, replaying conversations, worrying about deadlines, and thinking about tomorrow’s challenges.

The result is that the people who matter most often receive what is left over. And when they do, a man may achieve every professional goal and still discover he has lost something far more valuable.

To succeed at work but fail at home is to fail completely. True success includes maintaining both meaningful work and healthy relationships.

Work is one of God’s gifts. It allows us to serve others, provide for our families, develop our talents, and participate in His ongoing work in the world. We feel most happy, most alive, and most useful when we are doing the kind of work we’re created to do, even while feeling the prick of thorns.

At the same time we enjoy the dignity works gives us, we must remember that our work is not who we are. Think about this: If what you do is who you are, then who are you when you don’t do what you do anymore?

Work must remain a servant, not a master. Our families will be around long after our current jobs disappear.

On your side,

Pat

For Reflection and Discussion

1. Heart (Reflect): Do you think of your work primarily as a job, a career, a way to make money, or a calling from God? How did you come to that conclusion?
2. Head (Understand): Which of these ideas is most challenging for you: every vocation is holy, every man is “ordained” for ministry in the workplace, work itself is ministry, or success at work cannot compensate for failure at home? Why?
3. Hands (Apply): What is one practical step you can take this week to treat your work more like a calling and be more fully present with your family when the workday ends? What would change if you truly believed God had ordained you for the work you are doing right now?