The Duty of Work
There can be a quiet misunderstanding sitting in the pews of many churches. It whispers that the “godly” work is only done with a microphone, not a mouse.
That if you’re not leading worship, preaching, or praying down fire, your role is somehow… less holy. Less valuable.
But what if I told you God is just as pleased with the teacher in the classroom, the analyst at her desk, the nurse on the night shift, or the architect sketching blueprints, as He is with the pastor on the pulpit? For God, work isn’t plan B.
From the very beginning, work was God’s idea. Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”
That was before sin, before the fall. Work has always been part of God’s agenda for us.
It wasn’t a punishment, it was purpose. An act of obedience. A divine assignment.
So if you’ve been treating your 9 to 5 like a spiritual side hustle compared to the “real” ministry (whatever that means), maybe it’s time for a perspective shift. Your daily labour isn’t outside of God’s plan. It’s right at the heart of it.
We often label jobs outside the church as “secular.” But who decided that? What actually makes something secular? Is it the place you do it, or the purpose behind it?
“Secular” means not connected to religion or spirituality. But if God says whatever we do should be done to bring Him glory (1 Corinthians 10:31), then isn’t your work deeply connected to God.
Doesn’t that make your work spiritual?
A service to God. A form of worship.
Because if God is glorified in what you do—it’s not just a job.
It’s worship.
We must stop treating the workplace like it’s outside God’s jurisdiction.
The church must learn to raise kings, innovators, CEOs, creatives, engineers, and policymakers—not just pastors and worship leaders. Because the Kingdom needs Daniels and Esthers just as much as it needs Pauls and Peters.
People like Strive Masiyiwa, and Stanley Tam, shared the same idea. Their boardrooms became altars. Their decisions were led by prayer. Their impact was eternal. They weren’t less spiritual. They were simply obedient in their lane.
Many have failed at their true assignment because they assumed it only existed within church walls. They felt guilty for not being “more involved,” unaware that God had placed them exactly where He needed them, on the trading floor, in the studio, on the frontline, in the startup scene.
Your work is not a distraction from your calling. It might be your calling.
Your role might never trend on Christian Twitter or get you invited to speak at a conference, but it might be the most effective pulpit you ever stand behind.
God isn’t grading on a curve. The same “well done, good and faithful servant” is available to the pastor and the project manager.
He delights in obedience, diligence, and faithfulness. Whatever form that takes.
