What Colossians 3:23 and the stories of Joseph and Daniel say about serving God in a job that was never part of your plan.
Plenty of people end up in work they never planned for. You might have trained for one thing and found yourself doing another. You might be in a job that pays the bills while your heart is somewhere else. It is easy to feel that this part of your life does not count.
The Bible sees work differently.
Colossians 3:23
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23, NKJV)
The next verse ends, “for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:24, NKJV).
Paul wrote these words to slaves in the church at Colossae (Colossians 3:22). They had far less choice about their work than most of us. Even so, Paul told them that their daily work could be done for Christ.
The phrase “whatever you do” covers spreadsheets, shifts, customer calls and cleaning. No task is too ordinary to offer to God.
When work wasn’t part of the plan
Episode 3 of Tea Time With Thandie is about what God does through us as well as for us. The episode description mentions corporate life “when it wasn’t part of my plan”. The episode also talks about seeing opportunities as assignments.
That is a helpful way to look at a job you did not choose. An assignment has a purpose, even if it is only for a season. So you can ask: what might God want to do through me here?
Joseph: faithful where he was put
Joseph never planned to work in Egypt. His brothers sold him, and he was taken there and bought by an Egyptian official (Genesis 37:28 and 39:1). Yet:
“The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:2, NKJV)
Joseph worked well in a place he never wanted to be. Later he was unjustly put in prison, and the keeper of the prison put him in charge of the other prisoners (Genesis 39:20-23). God used all of it.
Daniel: integrity in a hard workplace
Daniel was taken to Babylon as a young man and trained to serve in the king’s palace (Daniel 1:3-4). Years later, under another king, his fellow officials tried to find something to accuse him of. But “they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him” (Daniel 6:4, NKJV).
The only charge they could think of was to do with “the law of his God” (Daniel 6:5, NKJV). Daniel kept praying three times a day, even after a decree made it dangerous (Daniel 6:10). He did his job well and kept his faith in plain sight.
Seek the good of the place you’re in
When God’s people were exiled in Babylon, a place they never wanted to live, God told them through Jeremiah to “seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive” (Jeremiah 29:7, NKJV).
That is a useful attitude at work. You can pray for your workplace and the people in it. You can work for its good, even if you hope to leave one day.
Practical ways to follow Jesus at work
- Do the work well. Turn up on time and keep your promises. Good work is part of your witness.
- Be honest in small things. Expenses and timesheets matter to God.
- Treat everyone with the same respect, whatever their role.
- Pray for your colleagues. You can do this quietly, by name, on the way in.
- Let your light shine. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NKJV).
- Remember who you are. Your worth comes from God, whatever your job title. Read more in what does identity in Christ mean?
When the job is hard
Some jobs are draining or unfair. Following Jesus at work does not mean putting up with mistreatment in silence. If you are being bullied or treated unfairly, it is right to get advice.
Acas gives free, confidential advice to workers and employers on most work-related problems. Its helpline is 0300 123 1100, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Acas says you may be charged for the call depending on your phone provider (Acas).
Bring your frustrations to God honestly too. If you feel stuck and can’t see a way out, read trusting God when you can’t see the full plan.
Your work and your calling
A job you didn’t plan for can still be part of what God is doing in your life. Your calling is bigger than your job, and it can include your job too. For more on that question, read how do I know what God is calling me to do?
For more on seeing opportunities as assignments, listen to episode 3 of Tea Time With Thandie.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
