If you are reading this right now, you have work to do.
I’m not only talking about a paid job but any work you do—paid or unpaid, noticed or behind the scenes. I spend my days working on many things; most of my tasks do not result in a paycheck. Payment does not validate work; God does.
Here are three truths and verses that have absolutely transformed my mindset about work:
Anything You’ve Accomplished God has Done for You
Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
Isaiah 26:12
Ah, I love this last phrase; it’s a great leveler.
When I look back at the last 37 years of my life, I see a lot of things that have been accomplished: daily things like taking care of children and making meals to more time-consuming things like working a job and developing skills.
But no matter the time or toll these tasks have taken, I can look back at every single one of them and say with conviction, “Anything I’ve accomplished God has done for me.“
Articles I’ve written, new projects I’ve started, relationships that have grown, health I’ve pursued… Anything I’ve accomplished God has done for me.
I couldn’t breathe without him, let alone work at anything. He gets all the glory for everything and forever. Meditating on this truth rids me of pride and directs my gaze and praise to God who alone deserves it.
As I look back at things I’ve done, whether I view them as a failure or success, God is the one who accomplished them by his power and for his glory.
Anything You Do Was God’s Idea First
Right on the heels of declaring that believers are saved completely by grace through the gift of faith, Paul says these words:
We are his workmanship, created in Christ
Ephesians 2:10
Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Anything good I do (or attempt to do) was God’s idea first. The conversations I have, words I write, acts of service I do—God planned them all.
Far from demotivating, this truth fuels me. Do you know why? Because the glory and responsibility are where they belong. It’s not up to me to come up with the best things to do, I get to follow the same God who saved me by grace through faith. He led me to believe in him; I can bet my britches he’ll lead me to the good work he’s planned for me to do.
Work Hard Because You Only Live Once
As Solomon so wisely said:
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 9:10
In other words, work hard because this life is the only one you’ve got. Or as the cool kids say (or used to say, or maybe never did because I don’t know all these things) #YOLO, also known as You Only Live Once.
You only live once so make it count for God. You’re not guaranteed tomorrow. You’re not even guaranteed one hour from now. All you have is now. So whatever God has put in your hand to do, do it with everything you have in you. Work hard for the glory of the one who has given you strength!
There is so much freedom in this! It frees you to work hard at whatever is in front of you without second-guessing everything. Did God give it to you?
Then do it with everything in you!
Anything God has put in your path is worth doing—not because people see it and approve, but because God is the one who gave it to you to do.