A Better Way To Work: The Divine Drive to Do

“Why are you still working?”

I could not help but ask. My colleague didn’t need the money, but kept coming to work. I could ask the same question of my neighbor who meticulously mows his own lawn when he could easily hire someone to do it. In a society that views work as a necessary evil, a means to an end, why would anyone work when it isn't financially necessary?

I find myself challenged by these words from Tim Keller,

“Everyone will be forgotten… and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught.

Unless there is God…

Then every good endeavor… pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever.[1]”

“Unless there is God.” We all have different views on the existence and nature of God. And our point of view on God has a critical impact on how we view work. Christianity, and many other faith traditions, believe work is a core part of God’s design for humanity – a way to connect with creation and with the divine.

Often we think about work as a curse, a bug in the system. But the Genesis creation story starts with God Himself doing work[2]. The introduction of evil into creation through sin made work more challenging, but God assigned Adam work to do, even before Adam sinned[3]. The Law of Moses directed the fledgling society of Israel that “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work…[4]” Notably, this definition of work included all types of effort, and was not just limited to employment. Work is not a sign that something is wrong, it can be a sign that we are aligned with God’s design, using our talents as He intended.

An End, Not A Means

A colleague once advised me to “do my work as if I expected nothing in return.” In other words, find a way to enjoy the work itself. Obviously we should seek to be fairly compensated, but working only for money or status leaves us feeling short-changed. How can any amount of money or prestige be a fair trade for thousands of hours of my brief life?

Sometimes I have spend a great deal of time working on things for which there is no prospect of meaningful reward - a garden, a poem, a meal, a hike, a blog post. If work is all about seeking a specific outcome, then my time in those activities was wasted. But, work is not just about outcomes.

Proverbs says “Do not wear yourself out to get rich…[5]” And the Apostle Paul warns against working for approval by saying “…If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.[6]” ‭‭Hinduism teaches that work is part of a person’s dharma, or duty, and should be done without attachment to outcomes[7]. Psychology tells us that people who work with a sense of purpose (intrinsic motivation) are typically more satisfied and happier than those who work for money or status (extrinsic motivation).

I must remember that work is not just a means to get something - it can be a noble end in itself. This mindset relieves the pressure of constant measurement, and opens the door for greater peace.

Work As Connection With Creation

Faith teaches us that work is not done in isolation, but it is one way we connect with other people and creation as a whole. God linked humankind with all of creation when he commanded Adam to care for the natural world around him[8]. Native North American religions often saw work not just as labor, but as part of a sacred connection to the Earth and the other people past and present[9], a “spiritual discipline rooted in responsibility to the whole[10] [11].”

The Apostle Paul's letter to Roman Christians explained how each of us play different parts in one integrated creation, “We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us…[12]”‭ Our work, not matter what it is, is not just about us. It fits into the broader fabric of society and creation.

In addition to connecting us with the rest of creation, work empowers us to help others. Paul of Tarsus said, “Anyone…must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.[13]” Judaism’s principle of tzedakah, holds that we are obliged to give a portion of our time, advocacy, and resources for the betterment of others.

As I go about my daily work, inside or outside of a formal job, I should actively contemplate the connection to other people and to society. This will provide a sense of purpose, even in ordinary tasks, and a deeper appreciation of my unique role in creation.

Work As Worship

In addition to being ordained by God, and providing connection to the rest of God’s creation, work is a way to actually connect with God. And the type of work does not matter. Christian scriptures say, “...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God [14].” I can connect with God through doing laundry or mowing the lawn just as much as I can by volunteering or preaching a sermon.

Different traditions have different views of God, but the idea of connecting with God through our work is ancient and almost universal. Among many Native American tribes, prayers, songs, and religious ceremonies were woven into work [15] [16]. In Hinduism, fulfilling one’s dharma, or duty, brings alignment with the divine. The Qur’an says, “‘Work! For Allah will see your deeds…” reminding us that God sees our work[17]. Dorothy Sayers famously said, “Work is not, primarily, a thing one does to live, but the thing one lives to do… the medium in which he offers himself to God.[18]” Tim Keller refers to work as a “ministry of competence”, glorifying the creator by doing everything with excellence.

The other day my daughter was stacking a pile of blocks, and called out “Daddy, watch me!” She was using a skill passed down from me to build something, and she wanted to share that moment with me. Her perspective turned a simple task into a relationship connection, a moment where we both felt loved. I think it is that way with God. Inviting God into my work acknowledges my Creator, and creates a connection between my heart and the heavens.

Empowered To Work Well

When we view our work as connected to the rest of creation, and we do our work to honor God, we open the door for divine encouragement and support in our efforts. Proverbs says, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.[19]” The Psalmist implores us to invite God into our work, “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands.[20]”

The Jewish Tanakh provides examples of God helping people do their work with excellence. One was a craftsman named Bezalel who worked on building the temple. “…I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship…[21]” Another was Joseph, a government administrator in Egypt. “The Lord was with Joseph… and the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.[22]”

Even people who do not consider themselves religious sometimes experience a kind of transcendence when fully engrossed in meaningful work. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the term “flow” to describe the experience of being fully immersed in an activity, a state where concentration is easy and work seems almost effortless. Research shows we are more likely to experience flow when doing work that uses our natural talents in alignment with a bigger purpose. In this way, “flow” becomes a metaphor for divine empowerment[23].

What We Were Made To Do

Work should not be something we are driven to do by a sense of need or fear. Work should be the natural outflow of the gifts and passions already inside us. Work connects us with others, with creation, and with God. And when we approach work with that mindset, even when work circumstances are difficult, we can feel God’s divine wind at our back.

So why do we keep working?

Because work is connection.

Work is worship.

Work is what we were made to do.

NOTES

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[1] Tim Keller - Every Good Endeavor. Tim Keller is one of the leading voices exploring the nature of God and God’s relevance to our day to day lives.

[2] “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.” Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[3] “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[4] Exodus 20:9 (ESV)

[5] Proverbs 23:4 (NIV)

[6] “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[7] Bhagavad Gita 2:47 – “You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”

[8] “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

[9] Cajete, Gregory. Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence (2000). Emphasizes that in Native worldviews, “work is spiritual discipline rooted in responsibility to the whole.”

[10] Cajete, Gregory. Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence (2000).

[11]  The Iroquois Thanksgiving Address, known as the “Words Before All Else” is recited regularly as a reminder of the spiritual significance of every element involved in work. Kimmerer, Robin Wall. Braiding Sweetgrass (2013).

[12] Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭CEB‬‬

[13] Ephesians 4:28 (NIV)

[14] 1 Corinthians 10:30

[15] Cajete, Gregory. Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence (2000).

[16] Fixico, Donald L. The American Indian Mind in a Linear World (2003).

[17] Surah At-Tawbah (9:105)

[18] From her essay titled “Why Work?”, first delivered as a talk in 1942. Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957) was a British writer, theologian, and scholar, best known for her detective fiction and her Christian apologetics. She was a contemporary of C.S. Lewis and part of the literary group known as the Inklings

[19] Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)

[20] Psalm 90:17 (ESV)

[21] Exodus 31:1–5 (ESV)

[22] Genesis 39:2–3 (ESV)

[23] Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York: Harper & Row, 1990. (P. 3) “The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” (P. 6) “The optimal state of inner experience is one in which there is order in consciousness. This happens when psychic energy—or attention—is invested in realistic goals, and when skills match the opportunities for action.”