“The task may appear unimportant or trivial, but the person doing it is never that, and he or she has the opportunity to turn the job into an act of worship.” Tom Wright

We can try to run from it, but eventually it will catch up to us. Most of us dread it and view it as an obligation rather than an opportunity. It is a four letter word that makes us cringe and causes us to cower: work. People avoid hard work for many reasons, and as a result, miss out on ways to lean into responsibility and humility.

Work is a spiritual act of worship; however, we continuously strive to separate our responsibilities from our spiritual life. All the while, these two things actually go hand-in-hand. You and I have a responsibility to all that we are surrounded by on a daily basis, including family, school, the people around us, and ourselves.

“Work is a spiritual act of worship; however, we continuously strive to separate our responsibilities from our spiritual life.”

Working within a family unit can be challenging at times. It requires selflessness in the form of washing dishes you didn’t use, folding clothes you didn’t wear, and vacuuming up a mess you did not create. Rather than making our lives merely about us, this provides an opportunity within our families to serve those around us. Generally, young people despise work because they have become accustomed to doing just enough to get by. We should be more focused on how our time is being spent, what responsibilities we are slacking on, and where we can carry more weight. The home is a great place for this to start.

As a college student, it can be easy to become heavily involved in one of these categories and neglect the others. Many times it is difficult for me to view school as my primary job because I am not reaping the benefits instantaneously. If I am not willing to work diligently in my current season, it is evident that my priorities are not where they should be.

We also have a responsibility for those around us, to engage them and walk alongside them as they flourish. You and I are called to live out our faith in a way that acquaints them with the gospel and exposes them to Jesus. James 2:20 reminds us, “How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” Coming together to work and serve those around us is a primary example of living out our faith.

In addition to being concerned with the people we do life with, we are also held accountable for ourselves. We need to know our strengths and weaknesses, as well as our gifts and talents. The only way we can determine what these things are is by putting down the video game, closing out the social media app, and getting to work.

“I was afraid of being both under and overcommitted, and I bought into the lie that busyness equals success.”

My first year of college was tough. I struggled to figure out how to balance work and rest, but what took me a while to figure out was exactly how much I could handle. I was afraid of being both under and overcommitted, and I bought into the lie that busyness equals success. Though overcommitting can be a good tool to teach us about ourselves, it was important for me to learn that my value is not derived from the number of bullet points on my to-do list. Busyness is not a badge of honor. I am not called to work because it is personally fulfilling or because it foots the bill, but instead, I am called to work because it glorifies the Lord. And as a result of taking part in kingdom work, I am rewarded with satisfaction in Christ, as promised in Psalm 107:9, “For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

It is our responsibility to deploy the energy that God has given to us. Work is not merely a job, it’s using our time and expending energy in an effort to serve. People who are tired because they are busy working hard at the right things don’t have time to spend on the negative. Contrary to popular belief, it is quite healthy to be exhausted. When you are carrying a substantial amount of weight, temptations aren’t as prevalent because you do not have excess time to lend to those things. This is a difficult concept because it is highly counter-cultural. Nevertheless, in trying seasons, character is being built.

In the midst of our work, we cannot forget that God is a worker Himself. This is an important piece of His nature and a reflection of His character. In Genesis 1, the Bible says “God created…” not “God sat silently still and hoped that the world would form.” Throughout Scripture, God is referred to as a builder, weaver, shepherd, potter, and many other titles which capture the essence of hard work. If God Himself is heavily involved in work, why should we, the very creatures made in His image and likeness, escape that responsibility? Work is an integral and essential aspect of who God is, and we can use our own work to glorify Him. We are reminded in Colossians 3:23-24 to “work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

“It is our responsibility to deploy the energy that God has given to us. Work is not merely a job, it’s using our time and expending energy in an effort to serve.”

I am reminded daily that I cannot simply back away from hard work. I must embrace it, be faithful to serve where I am planted, and engage in purposeful activities as an act of worship. I am learning that growth happens when I step out of my comfort zone and that I am to fully trust Christ in my weaknesses. For when I am weak, then I am strong.