Bonnie Wurzbacher, the Vice President for Coca-Cola, said something radical if not revolutionary.

Speaking of her career and vocational journey, she remarked, “Where once I thought a job should be meaningful, now I realize the worker brings meaning to the job.”

That is at least radical for most of us. So often we look for a job that is meaningful, as if meaningful can be found in a nicer office, happier co-workers, better salary, a more highly-reputed position or some other externally-driven factor.

The truth is, your job can be meaningful regardless of what profession, your co-workers, or your pay. The meaningfulness will be found as a result of something within your heart.

Take just a moment and consider the Lord’s view of the concept of work.

Appearing 145 times in the Old Testament, the word “abodah” literally means work, as in rustic or manual labor, such as the work done on a farm.

But it also means service and has definite spiritual and sacred meanings (i.e., the service or work of repairing the temple, the work of the Levitical priests in the Tent of Meeting, etc.) and is used in connection with worship and the sacrifices people would bring with them to worship the Lord. It even carries the idea of adoration.

Work. Worship. Service. Sacrifice. Adoration.

Like a multi-strand rope, God’s Word weaves them all together interchangeably. So why have we tried to untangle them and isolate “work” to be just something mundane, routine, or non-spiritual?

As you work, you are offering the Lord your time and heart, approaching it with a sacrificial and surrendered will, using your skills for His glory, serving Him joyfully and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you in whatever way He pleases. That’s more than work!

So as you type your next letter, dig your next ditch, draw your next unit of blood, greet your next customer, paint your next wall, or write up your next contract, understand that you are working, serving Christ, and worshiping all at the same time!

With that as a backdrop, bring some meaning to your work today!

“Serve the Lord with gladness!” (Psalm 100:2)

Change your mind and attitude if you need to.

Work with a sense of awe and adoration and suddenly your “job” will lose its mundane quality and take on great meaningfulness.

Boring should go out the door. Your day will become a lot more than just watching the clock and holding on until it’s over.

And the challenges and difficulties associated with what you do today may suddenly become very “worth it.”

The Lord has commissioned you to do the same. Get out there and do it the way He intended.

See your work and workplace the way He created it to really be.

Make today count!

by Dr. David Cox