Our Work and Greater Story — Nashville Institute for Faith and Work

Not long ago, a friend and I were talking and she shared with me about all that she has to be grateful for in her job: a secure role, a manager who is understanding and fair, a flexible schedule, ample vacation time, and good pay. But as my friend shared these positive words, they came as a prelude to expressing underlying feelings that are familiar to so many of us: “There’s nothing wrong with my work, it just doesn’t feel overly meaningful either… I wonder if my job is the right fit... Maybe I need a new setting? This isn’t really how I envisioned spending my career…”

For some, experience of these feelings ultimately leads to a career change. Sometimes that is a wise choice. God creates each of us uniquely and he doesn’t make accidents (Psalm 139:13-14). We all do well to be mindful of how God has wired us in considering the type of work, as well as the setting, for which we are best suited.

However, in moments when I’ve lacked clarity in my own vocational vision or direction, I’ve often found that refocusing my perspective on the greater story in which my life and work are located reinvigorates me with what I need to press on and engage my work with a full heart.

From the beginning of scripture, we see that our work has value beyond the lines of our resume or what we produce:

God created work as an avenue for people to find joy and purpose in him and his good creation.

From the first pages of the Bible, we see that God designed work as a part of his original “and it was good” creation (Genesis 1:28-31). God’s intent for work is that it would be a way for mankind to reflect his image by joining him in creating, cultivating, stewarding, and serving.

Do you know the satisfaction of sitting down with a cold drink in your hand following an afternoon of yard work on a hot summer day? How about the feeling that comes with delivering a product to a customer who you know is going to benefit from who you’ve given them in a significant way? That experience comes from God.

God has blessed us by creating work as an avenue for you and I to experience joy and meaning through participating in efforts that are purposeful and honoring to him.

So why is work so often a struggle for us?

Because of sin, work became a burden rather than a blessing.

As a result of Adam and Eve’s fall to Satan’s temptation to live as the authority over their own lives, our world no longer functions according to God’s original intent. The goodness of God’s creation has been marred by sin, like a beautiful bicycle bent out of shape, and this includes you and I. For each of us, our relationship with God has been broken by sin.

It’s because of sin that work can be hard, frustrating, and unrewarding (Genesis 3:17-19). It’s because of sin that the satisfaction of a job well done is much less talked about than feelings of burnout and discontent. It’s because of sin that many people look forward to age 67 (I’ll need to keep an eye on this number to update accordingly!) than the next day of work.

But where can we find hope?

Through the Gospel, God is in the process of renewing all things and work is part of his plan.

Because of God’s immeasurable love for this world, he sent his perfect Son, Jesus, to accomplish something real and powerful to bring about the restoration of all things. Through Jesus’ birth, perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the grave, God is in the process of renewing this world to the goodness of his original creation and redeeming broken people to relationship with himself.

The Gospel reminds us that our work is ultimately not about ourselves. Work comes from God and our work is ultimately for God. All who are restored to God - by grace through faith in Jesus - have the opportunity to engage our work with a greater meaning and purpose. God has created us anew that we might partner with Him in his mission to redeem, restore, and renew the broken things of this world (Ephesians 2:10). That is the job we ultimately show up to do each day - whatever our field or setting - and it’s one we can engage with our best creative energy and enthusiasm, as a response of worship and gratitude for Christ.

Each Spring, NIFW Gotham Fellows present Cultural Renewal Projects at the Fellowship’s Final Retreat. The goal is to address an area of brokenness in their field of work in light of the knowledge they have gained throughout their year of theological study and spiritual formation, and let me tell you - the plans and ideas presented are exciting and encouraging to hear. (Check out this video to hear about the impact of a project of an NIFW Gotham Alum)

Each of us have moments of struggle and challenge in our work. Let’s remember the greater story our work belongs to and engage God’s mission in our lives one day at a time. We may not always see it clearly, but through Christ, we’re building into a Kingdom that will stand for eternity. Let’s strive to bring that reality to bear on the brokenness of this world in the here and now, one day at a time.