Work is a huge part of our lives, but it doesn't define us. What kind of work, who we work for, how far up the ladder we've climbed; none of these determine our true worth.
I remember a sad old man who used to live in my block of units. He used to be the principal of a successful law firm but lost his practicising certificate because of an anomaly in his trust accounts. He was declared bankrupt and lost everything.
You can be at the top of the pile one day and down the bottom the next. Often it can be no fault of our own - be it an economic recession or company downsizing. How do we (or will we) cope when things go bad at work? Or conversely, what are we like at staying humble and balanced when things are going really well at work?
One of the advantages of being a follower of Jesus Christ is that our self esteem isn't tied up in our work. We know that we are loved and valuable because God made us and Christ died for us - even when we were his enemies!
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? James 2:5
This is incredibly liberating. When things don't go well at work, or if you lose your job, knowing how much Jesus values you can help you to cope and keep it together. Or when things are going really well for you at work, focusing on how great is the love of Jesus can keep things in perspective.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
So this week at work remember that your significance as a person doesn't come from your job, but from Jesus Christ. Remember this when you 'fail' and when you 'succeed'. The love of Jesus frees us from the trap of finding our value in work. Where do you find your value in life?
This material is largely the work of Craig Josling, used with permission and our thanks.
* Image flickr.com/creativecommons - flickr.com/photos/paperpariah/
