iWork4Him PowerThought

God loves our work! Why? I'll give you a hint – it's not because He's a workaholic. It's because work is an opportunity for God to partner with us for the salvation of souls! When we head to our jobs each day, we have an opportunity to not only make a paycheck but to engage in Kingdom purposes! 2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "So we are Christ's Ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ..." What does it mean to be Christ's ambassadors and to speak on his behalf? Simply this: that we represent Christ and his purposes wherever we go, including work. Because when our faith is put into action people notice something is different and it becomes a catalyst for conversation. How can you partner with God at work this week as His ambassador?

1 Corinthians 12:27 says, "All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it." I love it when the Apostle Paul talks about all the different parts of the body of Christ because so often, we get caught up in comparing ourselves to someone who was designed to function differently. But the truth is, no matter which part of the body of Christ you are, you are essential, and your role is significant! Every part of the human body must be in working order for it to be healthy. Similarly, every believer must be participating in their unique calling for the whole body of Christ to function well! When you understand who God created you to be and what He created you to be doing comparison disappears. So, lean into your work today, because God placed you there for a reason!

Why do you go to work? Something gets you out of bed and on the clock. Is it for a paycheck, to get experience, or to feel like you're making a difference? All of us have a reason. If you paused and assessed yours, what would the answer be? For nine years we have opened the iWork4Him radio show and podcast by asking: Who do you work for, really? This simple question gets at the heart of the matter because when it comes down to it, there are only two people you can be working for: yourself or God. Either you are laboring for the things of this world – your comfort, wealth, status, and pride. Or you are laboring for the things of eternity – a harvest of righteousness and the fruit of the gospel. Your work matters to God – invite Him in!

Have you ever had a coworker who seems to get all the breaks and suddenly, the green-eyed monster of envy rears its ugly head? Envy is birthed out of comparing our lives to someone else's and being dissatisfied with the difference. But here's the thing: comparison is a dangerous game. When you become preoccupied with watching someone else's life, you miss the things that God wants to do in your life. Proverbs 14:30 says, "A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones." You see, jealousy and envy will slowly destroy you and destroy the good and gracious plans that God has in store for your life. So, next time you find yourself silently judging, critiquing, or being envious of someone at work, try what Paul suggests in Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep."

Have you ever heard the old adage, "you have two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak?" Well, it's true! Nobody likes to be run over with somebody else's words! James 1:19 says it this way, "Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak." What is your speaking to listening ratio? Do you tend to overrun the conversation, or do you wait to hear what other people have to say? When we take the time to ask thoughtful questions and genuinely listen to the answer, the person we are talking to feels valued and understood. Find one coworker or client at your job today and ask them how they are really doing. Then wait for the real answer… the one that goes deeper than just "fine." You may be surprised by what you find out!

God is up to something. He is not idly sitting by up in the Heavens, uninterested and uncaring about the matters of earth. He is intimately involved. Luke 12:7 says that "He even counts every hair on your head!" And as if it isn't already crazy enough that the Lord of All cares about our day-to-day lives, He doesn't stop there. He asks us to join Him in His work! Let me say that again: the Maker of Heaven and Earth wants to partner with YOU! What an invitation! You have the chance to be part of what God is doing in your workplace, neighborhood, and friend group. Have you said 'yes'? Or have you left God knocking on the door with the invitation in his hand? Don't miss out on this opportunity. Don't let another day pass you by without asking Jesus what he wants to accomplish through you today.

We live in a busy world. If we aren't in a meeting, or working on a project, or going to an appointment – we are looking at our phones, or answering emails, or hopping on a video conference. Technology has made work accessible ALL. THE. TIME. Not just from nine to five. But as Mahatma Gandhi once said, "there is more to life than increasing its speed." So, how about you? Are you running so fast that you are missing the things God has in store for your day? Try intentionally slowing down and scheduling in blank space on your calendar. When you do, you may be surprised by the connections and conversations you are able to have. When we make time for people, the Lord opens incredible ministry opportunities. Who does God want you to speak to today?

When you have a major decision to make or a faced with a "fork in the road" in your career, whose opinion do you seek out first? Do you ask your friends? Your partner? Do you make a list of pros and cons? Do you just avoid it? Although we've all probably done each of these things, there is a BETTER way: ask the one who already knows everything about your past, present, and future. When we get on our knees and seek God's opinion first, He leads us towards the best decision. So, next time you are faced with a tough choice, pray, read God's word, and pay attention to the confirmations and affirmations that come through Christ Followers in your life. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." So, stop worrying, and start praying – He will take care of you.

Jesus gave His followers a clear mission: to make disciples of all nations. But in order to fulfill this mission, we cannot be focused only on our personal gain. Rather, we must constantly be pouring into and raising up those around us. In the book She Works His Way, Michelle Myers writes, "Limiting your kingdom impact to what you can do marginalizes the legacy it's possible to leave behind. Make it your mission to believe in others…" In the business world, discipleship is often called mentorship, and it's all about helping someone else up instead of stepping on them to get yourself a little higher. Are you making it a priority to intentionally mentor a next-generation co-worker? We challenge you to pray this week and ask the Lord, "who would you like me to mentor in the workplace and disciple in faith?"

If I had one hundred dollars for every time someone said, "I want my life to have a purpose, so I am thinking about quitting my job to go work in a church or Christian nonprofit" I would be a very, very rich man. There is a myth that has been circulating through theological communities for decades: that in order to have a Kingdom impact, you have to work in a four-walls church, a ministry, or a foreign mission field. But Psalm 139 in the Message translation says, "Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there!" The Holy Spirit resides inside of YOU, and that means that wherever you are – THAT is your mission field. So where you work, doesn't matter nearly as much as WHY you work. How can you work for the Lord today?