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. Colossians 3:23-24
“Whether we own a business or work for one, our role carries significant ethical responsibilities. When we promote our goods or services to the public, we must use clean, clear and honest messages. When we manage and remunerate staff, we must treat them as fellow image-bearers of God. We must act with integrity, obeying the law of the land in our business dealings, and honouring contracts while also paying taxes. We keep our promises, both verbal or in writing, and price our products or services fairly and reasonably — these decisions have a substantial effect on our witness, and clearly impact whether we bring glory to God through our actions at work. Even something as simple as reliability at work can impact how we are perceived in the eyes of man and God. Reliability shows we respect and value others. We bear witness to Jesus when we honour God with both our words and our actions in the marketplace. This glorifies God and may win people to the Lord.”
Alex Cook in his three-page essay “Does it matter how we earn our income?” in Purposeful Living: Financial Wisdom for All of Life compiled and edited by Gary G. Hoag and Tim Macready (Rhodes, NSW: Christian Super, 2018) 25-27. Click on the title to download this free ebook today.
It’s Labor Day today in America. Be sure not to spend money you don’t have on Labor Day sales. Many go broke saving money! It is, however, a good day to reflect on our work. Often we separate in our minds how we earn our income from what we do with it. Cook reminds us that God cares deeply about both in his must-read piece.
We must always think of ourselves as workers for God, as today’s Scripture reminds us. Dealing ethically, behaving responsibly, acting with integrity, pricing goods and services fairly are all aspects of our reliability. What about you? Are you reliable? Would people say you work responsibly with integrity? Can people count on you?
As people spend the majority of their time working, work comes into view as one of the greatest avenues for you and me to express our generosity. Whether or not you take the day off, take five minutes to reflect on your work. Does your reliability glorify God and bless others? What needs to change for this to become your reputation?
Sit with the Holy Spirit, ponder these questions, and respond in obedience as a faithful worker for God.