By: Jon Reed
The business of glory may seem like a peculiar subject, but this is the beginning of a mini-series on the integration of faith and work. Scripture speaks explicitly about the purpose of our work and the posture believers in Christ ought to take toward their careers and work. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says that “man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” This idea is rooted in Scripture, as the Bible makes it clear that humans were created to honor God. Therefore, the primary purpose of Christians and the church is to glorify God—there is no greater purpose. John Piper has emphasized this repeatedly in his books and preaching, emphasizing that we should do so by experiencing Him in eternity: “The great business of life is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever” (Desiring God, John Piper). God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.
So, what does this have to do with our careers and our work? How can we find enjoyment in our careers, and what if our work is not fulfilling? How can I be satisfied in a dead-end job?
I have certainly had seasons in which I realized I was simply “mailing it in” and grew complacent. Complacency breeds apathy, but contentment breeds passion. I listened to negativity enough that I was deceiving myself into thinking that my complacency was contentment and my apathy/entitlement was passion. I found that when I committed to working to bring value to others through creativity, integrity, and excellence, not only was my day more full and enjoyable, but business just started flowing.
God placed Adam in the garden to “work it and keep it.” These two words for “work and keep” are usually translated as “serve and guard.” When these two words occur together later in the Old Testament without exception, they have this meaning and refer either to Israelites “serving and guarding/obeying” God’s word (about 10 times) or, more often, to priests who “serve” God in the temple and “guard” the temple from unclean things entering it. We were made for work, and it was never about provision or profits (Adam had all his needs provided for him, but he was put in the garden to work anyway); it was about the flourishing of creation and God’s glory.
“Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made”—Isaiah 43:6-7.
What does it mean to be creative in this business? We are the sons and daughters of the Creator of the universe, and we have been called to reflect His creative nature. This should fill us with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and an overflowing joy that compels us to love other people and be generous with them. As Paul says, “their abundance of joy . . . overflowed in a wealth of generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2).
So, how do we work to reflect God’s creativity—even in a dead-end, hostile, or lonely environment? By committing to seeking the flourishing of others rather than working to collect a paycheck, understanding that our work is much larger than a means of provision but an opportunity to declare the glory of God to a lost world. In success or failure, may God be glorified in whatever work he places in our hands.
