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Why Do You Work?

In Articles, Life Issues, Mission, Purpose, Spiritual Growth, Work by Kirk Giles

While work has benefits for us personally, it was always designed to be an activity that reflects who God is and ultimately to bring glory to God.

How happy are you with your job? [In the spring of 2017], Angus Reid released the results of a poll about faith in Canada, and this question was a part of that poll.

Approximately 75% of Canadian men would say they are happy with their current job. To be honest, I was somewhat surprised by this result, but I also think this is exciting news. I do not know where you would fall in the “happiness” scale in regards to your work, but I know that work is a good gift from God.

Let me ask you a question—why do you work?

Over the years, I have heard many answers to this question: We work because we need to pay the bills, help to provide for our family, find our own sense of purpose and achievement, reach dreams and goals we have for life, and sometimes even to avoid other problems that we have in life. Most of these answers are reasonable and good, but they are also missing something.

As men, we tend to compartmentalize our lives. Life is just easier when we are only focused on one thing at a time. Unfortunately, this means that sometimes when we work, we are not considering the impact of our work (or how we approach our work) on our relationships, time, and ultimately our relationship with God.

Work is a good gift from God—created by God before sin ever entered the world. While work has benefits for us personally, it was always designed to be an activity that reflects who God is and ultimately to bring glory to God.

When you go to work—you have the opportunity to reflect the God who works, so do your work with excellence, creativity, and in a way that brings life to others. When you go to work—you have the opportunity to interact with people who desperately need to encounter the grace of God in their own life, so treat your co-workers with respect and love. When you go to work—you have the opportunity to serve others—so serve in a way that shows the greatness of a God who serves us through sacrifice and kindness.

Work should never be separated from our faith. Our faith should shape our work. In whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God (Colossians 3:23).

About
Kirk Giles
Kirk Giles is the co-lead pastor of Forward Church in Cambridge, ON. He was formerly the President of Impactus (when it was known as Promise Keepers Canada). However, his most important roles as a man are husband to Shannon and father to Carter, Joshua, Sydney and Samuel. He is also the author of The Seasons of Fatherhood.
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Kirk Giles
Kirk Giles is the co-lead pastor of Forward Church in Cambridge, ON. He was formerly the President of Impactus (when it was known as Promise Keepers Canada). However, his most important roles as a man are husband to Shannon and father to Carter, Joshua, Sydney and Samuel. He is also the author of The Seasons of Fatherhood.