How To Serve God In Your Work
How to serve God in your work
I strive to see my customer not as a dollar sign, but as someone who chose me to take care of a problem they had. In this world of materialism, there is no shortage of places to buy a bible cover. I know this. I know that my customers can go to Walmart and get something that will satisfy the need they have. But why should they choose me? This is the mindset I use when I market myself, and even when I am designing my products. How can I give my customer something that they will enjoy and be proud to carry. And how can I be a person that they will want to come back to again?
Take the focus off of yourself and your personal ambitions and instead focus on the people you serve. What do they need? What will they like? Whether it's your boss or your customers, work with a mindset that you are being paid to do something well for someone else. Make that your primary motivation. Because you serve God by serving others before yourself. And this is the very heart of how we can worship God with our work.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Using your God-given talents
When I work out a new product design, I strive to create a product that has my heart in it. My products have a story and intention. They are not just as something to pay the bills. Shoppers can tell if you are in this because you love it, and that makes them want to be a part of it. I genuinely LOVE what God has given me the ability to do what I do every day at Gathered and Sown. I never take it for granted that I get to wake up every morning and do something that gives me such joy. I praise God that I have the opportunity to meet my customers face to face and learn who they are and how I can help them. He knew when He created me what He designed me to do, and right now, this is it.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28
The talents God gave you likely look a lot different than the ones He gave me. But that doesn't mean they aren't important! Find what it is that God designed you for and do it to the best of your ability! Use those gifts and talents to serve others through your work.
I challenge you to take a serious look at what you can do to bring that joy into your work. Even if it means completely changing directions. It will make a difference in your paycheck, your family and in your sanity ☺️
Honor God with the best part of what you produce
Tithing. The very word can stir up emotions both good and bad in an instant. Depending on how you were raised, you may not understand it for what it is. Here is the core: Tithing is acknowledging that God has blessed you. And in return, you WANTING to turn around and bless someone else. God doesn't want us to give because we HAVE to. (Look at the story of Cain and Abel, a brutal Old Testament example, but it drives the point home! ) He wants nothing more than to have a personal relationship with us, and in a relationship, you naturally want to do something for someone who has done something for you.
Tithing can be as simple as buying a bag of groceries for a struggling single mother. Or giving a thankless, anonymous donation to a worthy organization. Or giving your time to visit with a lonely shut in. Or offering a ride to a cancer patient who needs to get to chemo. Our time can be a blessing to someone else just as much as our money. The key is to give with your heart, and expect nothing in return. Give back in gratitude for what has been done for you. And let that be woven in everything you do at work.
Never stop looking for ways you can improve yourself and your business.
At some point or another we are going to have situations in business that can either break us or help us grow. We have to chose how we handle them. I put all of my effort into creating products that are encouraging and practical. But every once in a while, I get an email that something isn't right. Does it make me want to crawl into a hole and hide? ABSOLUTELY! But because of the foundation in God I'm trying to build off of, that I did the work with the best of my abilities. And I did work that was honoring to Him. I also acknowledge that it is likely just as hard for the customer to reach out and send that difficult email to me.
So I do what I can to make the situation right. And by right I mean I want my customer to have something that they love. And I want them to walk away without any qualms about coming to me with a problem. And I want them to feel that they got exactly what they paid me to do.
God is the source of all good things
Never lose focus of where it all comes from. Before I pat myself on the back for a job well done, I like to remind myself that nothing good I do is apart from Him. That all good gifts are from above. Below I'm going to share my favorite scripture passages that remind me of this. Because giving the glory back to God keeps me humble and honest in my work ☺️
Psalm 31:19
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Deuteronomy 28:2
All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:
Psalm 128:2
You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
I am taking today as the day I make a more intentional effort to put these principals into practice. I know I'll slip up, and I know that it is never easy, but I feel I was put here on purpose, so it is my JOB to do it right.
In the comments below, I'd love to hear how these verses make you feel.
Are there any areas in your life where you feel like you can honor God better with your gifts through your work?
Thank you so much for this message today! I was just thinking about what I can do for others, and I never thought of it as tithing, but that makes total sense!!