Does working from your heart come naturally to you, or are half-hearted efforts a continual struggle?
I’ve answered yes to both questions at some point in my life.
However, as my relationship with the Lord deepened, so did my work ethic.
My mindset and approach to life also changed, including how I approached my work and activities. Everything became about glorifying God.
What the Bible Says About a Godly Work Ethic
As I renewed my mind with the Word of God and sought practical ways to live out my faith, I became dissatisfied with doing the bare minimum in any area of life.
Digging deeper into the treasures of Scripture, I discovered five powerful truths about a godly work ethic.
1 – A godly work ethic focuses on the Lord.
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people.” – Colossians 3:23 NASB
Embracing and maintaining a godly work ethic isn’t easy, and we can fall short at times. However, when we succeed, we can credit it to God’s incredible grace and strength.
Doing our best can be sacrificial, especially when unfair things happen.
Joseph was a living example of putting our best foot forward in extreme circumstances. He was unjustly imprisoned and still completed his assignments with integrity and excellence (Gn 39:6).
Potiphar, Joseph’s supervisor, benefited greatly from Joseph’s work ethic. Potiphar could’ve gone on a permanent vacation because Joseph was in charge.
Like Joseph, we can do our best even in an unfortunate situation—like when we’re passed over for a promotion or left to care for an elderly parent alone.
2 – A godly work ethic views work as worship.
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” – Romans 12:1 NASB
As those who carry God’s name, our work can serve as a powerful reflection of our faith and commitment to Jesus.
Whether we’re paid employees or volunteers, our work can be an act of worship if we perform it with a wholehearted devotion to the Lord.
While we’re temporarily accountable to people, we’re eternally accountable to God—our true boss.
God gave us His most precious gift, His only Son, so we could have eternal life.
We should offer our best to the Lord because He gave His absolute best for us. Our efforts can never match the incomparable gift of Jesus, but we can present our work as a sincere sacrifice from a heart overflowing with gratitude.
3. A godly work ethic displays a powerful witness.
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20a NASB
Family members and teachers gave us plenty of advice while we were growing up, such as “Always do your best.”
They emphasized the significance of having a strong and responsible work ethic. Our work is a direct reflection of ourselves.
But, as a Christian, our work also directly reflects Jesus.
If we raise our children in a godly way, it reflects Jesus. If we complete our employment in an excellent manner, it points to Jesus. If we look out for our sick neighbor, it displays the love of Jesus.
Our work can draw others to Christ. The world can observe us fulfilling our responsibilities with a positive attitude, even in pressing situations.
4 – A godly work ethic results in a divine payday.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB
My husband and I own a cleaning business. Our business motto is, “Excellence in cleaning.”
Cleaning is hard work. We put our hearts into it, not just our bodies. Sometimes, customers show appreciation for a job well done. Other times, a customer only comments when they have a complaint.
We have customers we’ve serviced well for a long time. Although they expect us to go above and beyond in our efforts, they don’t always reciprocate in their expressions of gratitude and appreciation.
People may forget the good things we do from our hearts in Christ’s name, but God doesn’t forget.
No matter how big or small the task, He considers our work a labor of love.
God rewards us both here on Earth and in Heaven. The Lord knows how to say and show His thanks.
5 – A godly work ethic leads to lifelong transformation.
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 NASB
Work fulfilled with heart and soul honors, pleases, and glorifies Jesus.
Regardless of our position in a family, organization, or business, we should strive to do everything unto the Lord.
We’re lifelong learners, and there’s always room for growth and change.
Evaluate your performance in a specific area of paid or unpaid work (such as arriving on time or your attitude). Can you identify any opportunities for improvement? If so, create a performance improvement plan with measurable steps to track your progress.
For example, if you want to stop arriving late for work, your plan may include preparing your lunch at night, going to bed earlier on weeknights, using multiple alarms, or leaving 15 minutes earlier to avoid traffic delays.
Share this plan with a trusted friend and ask her to help keep you accountable.
Fueled by the Lord’s strength and grace, we can cultivate and sustain a godly work ethic and accomplish everything God called us to do.
Felicia Harris-Russell
Felicia Harris-Russell dedicated 35 years to various roles in Christian ministry. She is passionate about helping people develop a personal relationship with Jesus and grow as disciples. Felicia lives in Georgia with her husband, Ben. She enjoys reading, writing, mystery shows, solving jigsaw puzzles, and walking in the park. Connect with her on her website.
