It doesn’t get better than…
“There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him?” – Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, CSB
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10, CSB
The road to burn-out
Work itself is not the point. It never has been. In a culture where we often wrongly equate being busy with being valuable, and finding our identity in our doing, we can easily slip into a false quest for justification through work. One of many problems with this is that the quest never ends. If work is the goal, then work just leads to more work, then to a culture of works-based approval and acceptance. This in turn sets up resentment, lack of transparency, and a burn-out culture.
Are we really meant to enjoy our work?
We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. We have been designed by Him to enjoy Him, and designed for work that brings Him glory. God Himself, who is creative, loving, and altogether good, has designed work that is tailor-made for us. We are meant to enjoy our work. (If you don’t believe me, go read Ecclesiastes 2:24 one more time.) This does not mean every aspect of our work will be fun or easy! It may be incredibly difficult and sometimes even mundane. Sorry, that’s the truth. But we are meant to enjoy the fruit of our labor, to make time for rest and relaxation, to take time to enjoy God and the life He has given to us. In a culture that idolizes both work and relaxation, learning how to enjoy the God who reigns over both of those things becomes a vivid testimony of His freedom and grace.
Think:
Are you able to pause and enjoy the fruit of your work? Or do you struggle to give yourself that permission?
Are you working in a God-glorifying way, with healthy rhythms of both work and rest? How would you describe your weekly rhythm of work and rest?
Do you have a clear sense that you are working from approval – God fashioned you and considers you His workmanship –, or do you find yourself trying to gain approval or a sense of identity and security through your work?
For the bold: Ask one or two people who know you well and who love you to evaluate your work ethic and your work-rest rhythms. Ask God to prepare your heart to really hear their input.
Prayer:
“Jesus, thank You for full acceptance apart from my own work. I pray that both my work and rest in this lifetime will flow from this reality. May I work diligently in the right things in the right way! When I discover myself working with wrong motives, trying to find my belonging through my work or my ministry, give me the wisdom to find my acceptance and approval where it truly lies, in You.”