The Work In Front Of You
Ordinary effort, offered up.
On unglamorous work and who you are doing it for.
The big idea
There is no such thing as secular work when God is the audience.
Opening scripture
“Do your work with full effort and integrity. Make it an offering to God, not just to impress people.”
What does “The Work In Front Of You” walk through?
Whatever You Do
Colossians 3:23 · KJV
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
In plain English
Do your work with full effort and integrity. Make it an offering to God, not just to impress people.
The Audience Changes Everything
Paul wrote this to slaves doing work nobody admired. If their labour could be offered to God, so can a shift, a spreadsheet, or a task nobody will remember.
Where Wisdom Starts
Proverbs 9:10 · KJV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
In plain English
The fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins, and knowing the Holy One is understanding.
“Doing it well is not about being impressive. It is about being faithful with what is actually in front of you.”
Faithful With Little
Luke 16:10 · KJV
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
In plain English
Whoever can be trusted with very little can be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will be dishonest with much.
Small Work Is Real Work
Jesus makes the small thing the test. If you cannot be trusted with a Tuesday, the bigger calling you are waiting for would not be safe in your hands.
Pray
Father, this work feels small. Let me do it well anyway, for you. Amen.
Write it down
What ordinary work could you offer to God this week?
Do the next thing well
Faithfulness is usually unglamorous. Do it anyway.
Which passages does this journey use?
3 passages, drawn from Colossians 3:23, Proverbs 9:10, Luke 16:10. Every verse appears here in the King James text with a plain-English line beside it, so you can read it without a commentary open. Allow about 6 minutes for the whole thing, or 7 short sittings.
- Colossians 3:23
- Proverbs 9:10
- Luke 16:10
Read any of these in full on the complete KJV, or look the wording up independently at Blue Letter Bible.
More in Work, Ambition and Calling
All Work, Ambition and Calling →When Results Feel Like Identity
You are not your score.
The Night Before Something Big
Prayer for the hours you cannot control.
Choosing What's Next
Guidance when there is no obvious answer.
Your First Job
Character when nobody is watching.
Working For An Audience Of One
When effort goes unnoticed.
When You're The Youngest In The Room
Age is not the same as authority.