Work as Worship

In one of my business classes, I was talking with students about how business can be more than just a paycheck or a promotion. It can actually be a vehicle for doing God’s work in the world.

I wanted them to hear this clearly: their faith doesn’t begin and end in chapel. It doesn’t clock in when class starts and clock out when the lecture ends.

When you start to grasp what it really means to follow Jesus, something shifts. Your work becomes worship.

One of the ways that happens? Purpose.

Paul writes in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

In other words, your job isn’t just about a boss or a salary. It’s about serving God.

Whether you’re a nurse comforting a patient, a businessperson making an honest deal, or a teacher inspiring a kid who didn’t think they had it in them — all of that can become a reflection of how beautiful Jesus is.

And while we’re at it — I don’t want my students picking a career just because it comes with a big paycheck. I want them to ask deeper questions: How does my work fit into what God is doing in the world? How does my story become part of His story?

Work also becomes worship when we love people well. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and to love your neighbor. Guess what? Your job gives you a daily opportunity to do both.

I know a guy who runs a small company and hires people most others overlook. Not because it’s easy, but because his faith tells him everyone deserves a shot. That’s what love looks like in a workplace.

Here’s why all of this matters: Christianity isn’t a Sunday morning checkbox. It’s the thread that weaves purpose into what we learn and how we live.

Let me leave you with a picture.

Imagine a life where your college degree and your 9-to-5 both point to something eternal. Where every test you pass and every deal you close says, “I’m doing this for something bigger than myself.”

That’s what the gospel offers. It’s not a rulebook. It’s a compass.

For you students, live like that now. Let it shape how you study and how you lead.

For you adults, keep letting it guide how you show up for your team, your company, and this community.

Seek first the kingdom … and watch how God ties it all together.

Here’s a question to carry with you: What’s one way you’ll let that thread run through your week … starting today?