The Folly of Idolatry
Isaiah 44:6 "Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."
What does that have to do with you? Your work? If you are in a highly competitive work environment or profession, you are busy, busy, busy. If you are building your career, you are working many long hours. If you are in a position of authority, you will have many duties to balance and complete. Just how much should you give to your work? I can't give you numbers but there is basic advice taken from God's word.
God demands that He be first in your life. Secondly, you are to honor and serve your family. If you find you do not have those priorities in that order, you may be making your work into your idol. We've all heard "work alcoholic" for people who give 24-7 to their jobs. It's congratulated, emulated, and encouraged. But, a life lived for work (outside God and family) is merely a form of worshipping the work idol.
Ask yourself honestly: Does the way I perform my job fulfill God's desire? Do I bring God into my moment-by-moment endeavors at work? Do I start my day with prayer for my actions at work? Do I end my day with thanksgiving and reflection? Have I ignored my God and my family? Are all my deadlines, hours and the energy expended a part of God's calling for my life?
I am not saying don't work hard or even don't work many hours when necessary. I'm not saying God doesn't want you to work hard and long. I'm saying there is a line between how hard God wants you to work at this job and your goals and when you have made work your god. Isaiah 42: 8 - "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." I suggest you read Isaiah 42 in it's entirety. It talks of different occupations and no matter how hard they may work, without God as their only God, they will fail.
You can not accomplish your work goals without God's will. I ask you, "If you really do want to be the company's superstar and you know you can not succeed on your own ~ why are you not getting your priorities in order?" God will make your work meaningful because His goals for you are supreme. Having your priorities in order (God, family, work) will glorify God because you are allowing Him to create His desire in you.
What does that have to do with you? Your work? If you are in a highly competitive work environment or profession, you are busy, busy, busy. If you are building your career, you are working many long hours. If you are in a position of authority, you will have many duties to balance and complete. Just how much should you give to your work? I can't give you numbers but there is basic advice taken from God's word.
God demands that He be first in your life. Secondly, you are to honor and serve your family. If you find you do not have those priorities in that order, you may be making your work into your idol. We've all heard "work alcoholic" for people who give 24-7 to their jobs. It's congratulated, emulated, and encouraged. But, a life lived for work (outside God and family) is merely a form of worshipping the work idol.
Ask yourself honestly: Does the way I perform my job fulfill God's desire? Do I bring God into my moment-by-moment endeavors at work? Do I start my day with prayer for my actions at work? Do I end my day with thanksgiving and reflection? Have I ignored my God and my family? Are all my deadlines, hours and the energy expended a part of God's calling for my life?
I am not saying don't work hard or even don't work many hours when necessary. I'm not saying God doesn't want you to work hard and long. I'm saying there is a line between how hard God wants you to work at this job and your goals and when you have made work your god. Isaiah 42: 8 - "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." I suggest you read Isaiah 42 in it's entirety. It talks of different occupations and no matter how hard they may work, without God as their only God, they will fail.
You can not accomplish your work goals without God's will. I ask you, "If you really do want to be the company's superstar and you know you can not succeed on your own ~ why are you not getting your priorities in order?" God will make your work meaningful because His goals for you are supreme. Having your priorities in order (God, family, work) will glorify God because you are allowing Him to create His desire in you.
posted by Diane Gibson at
2:45 PM
