Give God Your Best Work - The Crosswalk Devotional - January 23
Give God Your Best Work
By Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“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, NIV
The Strasbourg Cathedral in France stands as a monument that shows devotion to God from many people over many years. Construction of this architectural masterpiece began in 1015, and wasn’t completed until 1439 – more than 400 years later. Generations of people gave their best work to build an awe-inspiring place of worship that honored God, knowing they would never live to see the finished cathedral themselves. One striking feature is the Pillar of Angels – a massive pillar built in the 1200s that supports the cathedral’s ceiling and features many angels carved into its stone sides. Right across from the Pillar of Angels, stonemasons carved a man with a watchful expression on his face as he looks at the pillar. The story goes that the man was carved to keep watching the pillar over the years, to make sure that it doesn’t fall. The masons did such excellent work building the pillar that the man is still watching it more than 800 years later. The people who worked on the cathedral gave their best – not for their own fame, but to glorify God. They gave God their best work, as an offering to the Lord.
In our world today, it’s easy to lose sight of why we work hard. Too often, our efforts are driven only by a desire for money or personal recognition. But God invites us to see our work differently. No matter what kind of work we do from day to day, our work is meant to be part of our worship. As Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us, God wants our best work, given wholeheartedly.
Your own work matters to God – even when it may seem insignificant or routine to you – because you’re an important part of the greater work God is doing in the world. When you give God your best work, you’re honoring God and participating in something good that has eternal value.
Working with all your heart means to put your best efforts into what you do, because you’re working for God, and God is watching. You don’t need to be perfect; you only have to do the best you can with the resources and abilities God has given you. Jesus himself modeled this during his earthly life. As a carpenter, Jesus worked with his hands, likely making things like tables, chairs, or construction beams with care and precision. As a teacher and healer doing ministry work, Jesus worked hard to give his best, as well.
One of the hardest parts of working “for the Lord” is letting go of the need for immediate results or recognition. Not every task will have a visible impact. Some efforts may go unnoticed by other people. But just as the workers of Strasbourg Cathedral trusted that their personal contributions were part of a greater masterpiece, you can trust God to bring beauty out of your work in the best timing.
God can use your faithfulness in ways you can’t imagine now. The attention you give to a mundane task can inspire someone else to do the same and ultimately lead to great goals being accomplished over time. The care you pour into raising your children can ripple through future generations. The creative project you work on with dedication can improve many people’s lives when it’s ready. Nothing done for God is ever wasted.
So, while you work, remember that you are really serving Christ, not human masters. This truth frees you from striving to please people or worry about temporary goals. Your inheritance is not a paycheck or a promotion – it’s the eternal joy of knowing you’re pleasing God and that God will bring good results out of your work.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider how it’s important to give God your best work, reflect on these questions:
- How can you change your perspective to see your daily work as an act of worship?
- What does it mean to “work with all your heart” in the specific types of work you do?
- Are there areas of your work where you’ve been tempted to hold back instead of giving your best? How can you change that?
- How does trusting God with the results of your work bring you peace?
Further Reading:
Ephesians 6:7
1 Corinthians 10:31
Proverbs 16:3
Matthew 5:16
Galatians 6:9
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Drs Producoes
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Your Emotions
Are you tired of up-and-down feelings stealing your peace, sabotaging your relationships, and filling your mind with self-defeating thoughts? What if you had a proven emotional management tool to biblically respond to your feelings with compassion and clarity? Join us for today’s episode to discover three simple steps to manage emotions, reduce stress, improve decision-making, and grow closer to God. If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
