Finding Purpose and Joy in Our Work

Devotional

Day 1: Work Is a Gift, Not a Curse

From the very beginning, God designed work as a meaningful part of human life, not as a punishment or a burden. Before the fall, Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it, showing that purposeful activity is woven into the fabric of creation itself. Work is not a result of sin, but a reflection of God’s own creative nature, and when we engage in our tasks—whether big or small—we participate in something God called “good.” Embracing this truth can transform our perspective, helping us see our daily labors as opportunities to honor God and experience fulfillment. [56:43]

Genesis 2:15 (ESV)
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

Reflection: How might your attitude toward your daily work change if you truly believed it was a gift from God and not a curse?

Day 2: Drudgery Is the Result of the Fall, Not Work Itself

While work was always part of God’s plan, the pain, frustration, and monotony that sometimes accompany it are consequences of the fall, not the work itself. Just as childbearing is both beautiful and painful, work can be both meaningful and difficult. The hardships and drudgery we experience are like barnacles on a ship—they are attached, but they are not the essence of work. God’s intention is that we find dignity and purpose in our labor, and our attitude can either enslave us or set us free to see work as a blessing. [01:03:27]

Genesis 3:17-19 (ESV)
“And to Adam he said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, “You shall not eat of it,” cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’”

Reflection: In what ways have you confused the hardships of your job with the value of work itself, and how can you begin to separate the two in your thinking?

Day 3: Work as Service to the Lord

Whatever our role—employee, employer, student, or volunteer—Scripture calls us to work wholeheartedly, not for human approval, but as service to the Lord. When we give our best effort, we honor God, who ultimately evaluates our work. This perspective shifts our motivation from pleasing people to pleasing Christ, reminding us that every task, no matter how mundane, is an opportunity to serve Him. Imagine if your paycheck bore the signature of Jesus—how would that change the way you approach your responsibilities? [01:09:19]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Reflection: What is one specific way you can approach your work this week as if you are serving Jesus Himself, rather than just your boss or coworkers?

Day 4: Treat Others as You Would Be Treated

Whether you are in a position of authority or under someone else’s leadership, God calls you to treat others with dignity, grace, and fairness. The principle of doing to others as you would have them do to you applies in every workplace relationship. This means showing compassion, integrity, and respect, whether you are managing employees, working alongside colleagues, or interacting with customers. In all things, our conduct should reflect the love and justice of Christ, who is our ultimate example and master. [01:11:52]

Matthew 7:12 (ESV)
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Reflection: Think of someone you interact with at work or school—how can you intentionally treat them today in a way that reflects Christ’s love and the Golden Rule?

Day 5: Giving Your Best in Every Season

No matter your stage of life—student, parent, employee, employer, or retiree—God calls you to give your best in all you do, modeling a spirit of excellence and faithfulness. This means using your gifts, energy, and opportunities to serve others and glorify God, even when circumstances are challenging or the work feels unnoticed. By relying on the Holy Spirit, you can cultivate an attitude that honors God, encourages those around you, and finds meaning in every task, big or small. [01:17:40]

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV)
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”

Reflection: What is one area of your daily routine where you have been holding back or giving less than your best, and how can you invite God to help you change that this week?

Sermon Summary

On this Labor Day weekend, we gather to reflect on the meaning and purpose of work in our lives, guided by the wisdom of Scripture. Work is not a curse, nor is it simply a means to an end or a burden to be escaped. From the very beginning, God designed humanity for meaningful work—placing Adam in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it before the fall ever occurred. This reveals that work is woven into the fabric of creation itself, a gift from God that allows us to participate in His creativity and stewardship.

Yet, after the fall, work became marked by drudgery and frustration. The sweat of our brow and the pain of our labor are reminders of a broken world, but they do not define the essence of work itself. The hardships and frustrations we experience are not the same as work; they are the barnacles, not the ship. Even in the midst of difficulty, God calls us to find meaning, dignity, and even joy in our labor. Our attitude toward work shapes our experience of it—whether we see it as bondage or as an opportunity to serve, create, and bless others.

Scripture calls us to a higher standard: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This was written to slaves, those with the least agency, reminding us that our ultimate audience is God Himself. Whether we are employees, employers, students, or parents, we are called to give our best, to treat others with dignity and grace, and to remember that our work is an act of worship and service to Christ.

In a rapidly changing world where the nature of work is shifting, these biblical principles remain constant. We are to model a Christlike work ethic, to seek meaning and purpose in our daily tasks, and to treat those around us with justice, mercy, and compassion. For those struggling with unemployment or difficult work situations, we pray for God’s provision, courage, and hope. May we all remember that in every task, big or small, we are serving the Lord, and may our work reflect His love and character to the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Work Is a Gift, Not a Curse God established work before the fall, placing Adam in the garden to tend and care for it. Work is part of God’s good creation, designed to give us purpose, creativity, and satisfaction. When we view work as a gift, we align ourselves with God’s original intent and find deeper meaning in our daily tasks. [56:43]
2. Drudgery Is the Result of the Fall, Not Work Itself The pain, frustration, and monotony that often accompany work are consequences of a broken world, not the essence of work itself. Just as childbirth is both miraculous and painful, work can be both meaningful and difficult. Recognizing this distinction frees us to seek dignity and purpose even in challenging circumstances. [63:27]
3. Our Attitude Toward Work Shapes Our Experience We may not always control our circumstances, but we can choose our attitude. Seeing work as an opportunity to serve, create, and build relationships transforms it from bondage into blessing. Gratitude for the chance to use our gifts and serve others can turn even mundane tasks into acts of worship. [65:00]
4. We Work for the Lord, Not for Human Approval Scripture reminds us that our true employer is Christ Himself. Whether we are employees or employers, our work is ultimately an offering to God. This perspective calls us to integrity, excellence, and faithfulness, knowing that God sees and values our efforts, even when others do not. [68:15]
5. Christlike Work Ethic Extends to All Relationships How we treat those who work for us, and how we serve those we work for, reflects our relationship with Christ. The Golden Rule—doing to others as we would have them do to us—applies in every workplace and classroom. Our work ethic, compassion, and justice are powerful testimonies to the world of God’s love and character.

** [71:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:37] - Opening Words of Gratitude
[05:32] - Greeting Guests and Announcements
[08:35] - Labor Day Reflections and Call to Worship
[11:34] - Prayer and Scripture Reading (Colossians 3:23-24)
[44:40] - Context: Work and the Early Church
[52:46] - The Modern Struggle with Work
[54:53] - Changing Nature of Work in Our World
[55:56] - Work in the Garden: God’s Original Design
[56:43] - Created to Create: The Blessing of Work
[58:55] - The Need for Creativity and Satisfaction
[60:34] - Drudgery vs. Work: The Impact of the Fall
[63:27] - Finding Meaning and Dignity in Work
[65:00] - Attitude and the Value of Our Labor
[68:15] - Working for the Lord, Not for Men
[71:09] - The Golden Rule in the Workplace
[72:32] - A Call to Give Our Best
[74:23] - Prayer for Workers, Employers, and Families
[84:41] - Baptism Celebration and Church Family Updates
[85:51] - Sending Forth: Letting Christ’s Light Shine
[87:34] - Closing Words of Gratitude

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) — > Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Genesis 2:15 (ESV) — > The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Matthew 7:12 (ESV) — > So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Observation Questions

According to Genesis 2:15, what was Adam’s role in the Garden of Eden before the fall? How does this challenge the idea that work is a punishment? [55:56]
In Colossians 3:23-24, who does Paul say we are ultimately working for, and what does he promise as a result? [44:40]
The sermon mentioned that the pain and frustration in work came after the fall. What specific words or images did the pastor use to describe the difference between work and drudgery? [01:00:34]
How does Matthew 7:12 (“do to others as you would have them do to you”) apply to relationships in the workplace, according to the sermon? [01:11:09]

Interpretation Questions

The pastor said, “Work is not a curse, but a blessing.” Why is it important to see work as part of God’s good creation, and how might this change someone’s daily attitude toward their job? [56:43]
The sermon compared the pain of work after the fall to the pain of childbirth—both are difficult, but not curses. What does this comparison suggest about how we should view the hard parts of our jobs? [01:02:31]
Colossians 3:23-24 was written to slaves, people with little control over their work. What does this teach us about finding meaning and dignity in any kind of work, even when it feels insignificant or hard? [44:40]
The pastor emphasized that our attitude toward work can either enslave us or set us free. What are some ways our mindset can change our experience of work, even if our circumstances don’t change? [01:05:00]

Application Questions

The sermon said, “We were created to create.” Think about your current job, schoolwork, or daily tasks. In what ways do you see opportunities to be creative or to bring something good into the world through your work? [58:55]
When you face frustration or boredom at work, how do you usually respond? Can you think of a recent situation where you could have chosen a different attitude? What would it look like to see that task as an act of worship? [01:05:00]
The pastor challenged us to “give of our best” in whatever we do. Is there an area of your work, school, or home life where you know you have not been giving your best? What is one step you can take this week to change that? [01:06:29]
Colossians 3:23-24 says we are working for the Lord, not for human approval. How would your approach to your job or daily responsibilities change if you truly believed Jesus was your boss? Is there a specific task or relationship where you need to remember this? [01:08:15]
The sermon talked about treating others with dignity and grace, whether you are a boss, employee, student, or parent. Think of someone you interact with regularly at work or school. What is one practical way you can show them Christlike compassion or justice this week? [01:11:09]
For those who are unemployed or struggling in their work, the pastor prayed for courage and hope. If you are in a difficult season with work, what is one way the group can pray for you or support you right now? [01:16:07]
The pastor mentioned that our work ethic and attitude are a testimony to the world. What is one thing you want others to notice about your character because of the way you work? How can you intentionally reflect Christ’s love in your workplace or home this week? [01:12:32]

Sermon Clips

``God gave us work to do before the fall of humanity. God gave us work to do before the fall of humanity. Our work is not to be considered a curse, but a blessing. When the world was still factory fresh, when it had that very new smell that comes with something that is so very new, God gave Adam to work to do. It is part of the creation, and it's part of the creation that God stepped back and looked down, and He called it good. He called what we did good. [00:56:51] (42 seconds) #WorkIsBlessingNotCurse

What about thank God it's Friday, and thank you, Lord, for this week? This week that has happened. You gave me a time to be creative. You gave me a time to use my mind and my body. You gave me an opportunity to be with people. And to use this gift of creation that you have given to us. It is amazing. It truly is. [01:04:54] (29 seconds) #AttitudeShapesWorkExperience

That people can have the same job, and do the same thing, and have an attitude that is entirely different. And we don't get to always decide the circumstances in our life. But we always get to decide our attitude about what we do. Always. Always. Whatever we do. [01:05:23] (30 seconds) #WorkAsService

And this is what Scripture tells us. We are working to please God. And not people. Wow. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not men. And then the last part of verse 24 says, it is the Lord Christ you are serving. [01:08:15] (28 seconds) #ServeWithIntegrity

So, on Friday, when you pick up your paycheck and you head home and you open that paycheck up and the signature on the bottom line is not the company owner, what if it said Jesus Christ of Nazareth? Had you earned your money this week? Have you wasted time at work? Have you failed to give your best at work? Are you just trying to get by? It is God who evaluates our work. [01:08:44] (41 seconds) #LaborDayWithPurpose

And so I say to us today, Scripture teaches us that we are to work as if we were working for God. For the Lord Jesus Christ, it is Him that we serve. And that principle applies across the board, however work is defined for us today. [01:09:26] (27 seconds) #BestForTheLord

And how we treat our employees or how we treat the boss is defined for us in Scripture. It says we are working for the Lord. Because even though you may be the boss, you have somebody to answer to. And that's our Heavenly Father. [01:11:12] (25 seconds)

So today, as we celebrate Labor Day on a day that we do not work and a day that most people who are working get paid for because it's a holiday. May we take the attitude of Christ. That in our work, we are serving Him. And that we are going to give of our best because Christ gave His best to us. And we're made in His image. [01:11:52] (34 seconds)

To employers, treat your employees with dignity and with grace, because you are serving the Lord, and to serve as He loves us, and to all of us, in whatever you do, whatever you do, in work and play, socially, professionally, on the ball fields, in the lunch rooms, on your phone calls, on your social media pages. Give of your best, for we are working for the Lord, and not each other. [01:13:22] (50 seconds)

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