Sharpened Together - Week 6
Purpose Beyond the Paycheck
Key Scripture:
And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile.
Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7 NLT
And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile.
Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.
Jeremiah 29:7 NLT
In Australia, the average full time working man spends around 44 hours a week on the job. That is 53% of all daylight hours. It is a significant share of our time, but more importantly it takes a significant share of our energy, both physical and mental.
For the last few decades, we have been taught to chase a work and life balance that subtly separates our jobs from our sense of purpose. Work is often framed as a necessary burden, something to manage carefully so it does not steal our life. This mindset can slowly lead to apathy, dissatisfaction, or even resentment toward the very workplace God has positioned us in.
Scripture presents a different picture.
Work is described in the Bible as a fundamental part of a man’s life, not something separate from it (Genesis 2:15). We are encouraged to work willingly and diligently as though working for God Himself (Colossians 3:23). Work is also meant to be balanced with rest and the enjoyment of God’s good creation in our daily and weekly rhythms (Isaiah 58:13 to 14). This includes enjoying time with our friends, families, and the natural world God has made.
Jeremiah wrote to God’s people while they were living in exile in Babylon. They were far from home, under ungodly authority and waiting decades for restoration. Yet God did not tell them to withdraw or simply survive. He told them to seek the peace, prosperity, and welfare of the city where He had placed them, and to pray for it (Jeremiah 29:7). God made it clear that the flourishing of that city was directly connected to their own wellbeing.
The truth is that we are all waiting, like the Israelites, for Jesus to return. In that waiting, Jesus calls us to be kingdom minded, focusing on sharing the life and ways of Christ through discipleship and love. Our workplaces are powerful places to meet and help people who are searching for God.
God wants our work to be fulfilling by bringing:
• Peace to those we work with and serve
• Prosperity to our businesses and the cities we live in
• Welfare through faithful prayer for the safety and health of our colleagues and communities.
God promises that these outcomes are directly tied to our own welfare. It is in our interest to pursue them, firstly to glorify God and secondly to strengthen the quality of our communities.
What is your current relationship with work?
What is God saying to you about the purpose of your work?
How does God want to use you in your workplace to bring peace and prosperity?
For the last few decades, we have been taught to chase a work and life balance that subtly separates our jobs from our sense of purpose. Work is often framed as a necessary burden, something to manage carefully so it does not steal our life. This mindset can slowly lead to apathy, dissatisfaction, or even resentment toward the very workplace God has positioned us in.
Scripture presents a different picture.
Work is described in the Bible as a fundamental part of a man’s life, not something separate from it (Genesis 2:15). We are encouraged to work willingly and diligently as though working for God Himself (Colossians 3:23). Work is also meant to be balanced with rest and the enjoyment of God’s good creation in our daily and weekly rhythms (Isaiah 58:13 to 14). This includes enjoying time with our friends, families, and the natural world God has made.
Jeremiah wrote to God’s people while they were living in exile in Babylon. They were far from home, under ungodly authority and waiting decades for restoration. Yet God did not tell them to withdraw or simply survive. He told them to seek the peace, prosperity, and welfare of the city where He had placed them, and to pray for it (Jeremiah 29:7). God made it clear that the flourishing of that city was directly connected to their own wellbeing.
The truth is that we are all waiting, like the Israelites, for Jesus to return. In that waiting, Jesus calls us to be kingdom minded, focusing on sharing the life and ways of Christ through discipleship and love. Our workplaces are powerful places to meet and help people who are searching for God.
God wants our work to be fulfilling by bringing:
• Peace to those we work with and serve
• Prosperity to our businesses and the cities we live in
• Welfare through faithful prayer for the safety and health of our colleagues and communities.
God promises that these outcomes are directly tied to our own welfare. It is in our interest to pursue them, firstly to glorify God and secondly to strengthen the quality of our communities.
What is your current relationship with work?
What is God saying to you about the purpose of your work?
How does God want to use you in your workplace to bring peace and prosperity?
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