During the height of the pandemic shutdowns, from 2020 to 2021, most kids in the area who attended public school had to do school online for about a year before they started returning to in-person classes. When they returned, as two friends who teach in public middle schools have told me, there was not just a lack of learning to deal with. Now, kids just didn’t care about school.
After being at home for a year with minimal school requirements, students discovered that a steady diet of entertainment was way more fun than doing schoolwork. Teachers have been fighting ever since to rebuild a sense of work ethic—the idea that we work hard at something because it’s valuable and intrinsically worth it.
“Teachers have been fighting ever since [the pandemic] to rebuild a sense of work ethic.”
This attitude toward work isn’t just common among teenagers, it’s also present among adults. There’s been a movement in recent years of “quiet quitting,” which means showing up to work in body, but quitting with your work ethic, mind, and heart. These “people who do the minimum required and are psychologically detached from their job” make up half the workforce in America, according to the Gallup research group.
The decline of work ethic is consistent with our “me-centered” society. What will make me happiest? What’s easiest for me? What will increase my comfort and entertainment? As naturally selfish people, this should not come as a surprise to us.
However, in this world of apathy and comfort-first in school and work, Christians should be seeking to do their jobs with excellence, self-sacrifice, and care, reflecting the character and mastery of our Creator.
Our ultimate motivation for doing our jobs well should not be to get promotions or raises. It shouldn’t be to get accolades or to feel better than others. Ultimately, we are called to reflect who God is as Creator.
As we saw in Genesis 1 and 2 during our sermon series last fall, God methodically created the entire universe over six days, pausing to assess His work each day and pronounce that “it was good.” God wasn’t seeking recognition from anyone for doing His job well. He did it well because it’s in His nature to do good work. He cares about the details of His creation because he’s kind and loving, and He put those same desires in His people.
“God gifts people in specific ways so that they can do excellent work that reflects the ultimate Creator.”
Then in Exodus 32:3–4, when God was speaking about the craftsman Bezalel, he said, “and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze … .”
God gifts people in specific ways so that they can do excellent work that reflects the ultimate Creator. When we give in to laziness or apathy in our jobs, we are defaming God’s character and being disobedient to His call to do our work well.
Second, we should be motivated to do excellent work by the commission of Christ to “spread his aroma to those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:14–17). For unbelievers, their lack of motivation could make sense—who or what are they ultimately living for? But for believers, it should be evident in all we do that we’re not living for ourselves, but rather for God.
“It should be evident in all we do that we’re not living for ourselves, but rather for God.”
Unbelievers should see believers delight in the joy of learning, having passion for a career/hobby/relationship, helping society be a better place, gladly giving of themselves to serve others, and taking pride in a job well done. They should see the satisfaction of tackling something hard and seeing it through to completion. They should see integrity in all the small areas, an unwillingness to lie or cut corners, a humility in putting others before themselves.
While these practices don’t speak directly of the gospel, they are spreading the fragrance of Christ, and those around us will notice. They will notice that we’re different, and this will open doors to speak more specifically of the gospel and how the Holy Spirit empowers us to live for Him.
Perhaps you’re stuck in a job or season of schooling that’s unpleasant or difficult. Maybe you dread the thought of going to work each day. Maybe you’re at home all day with kids and no one sees the work you do. Maybe you’ve slipped into our culture’s “me-centered” habits and adopted the “easy/comforting/entertaining” mindset without realizing it. What can you do practically to shift your mindset toward one of excellence in all you do?
The first step is to pray that the Lord will change your heart. On our own, our tendency is to be selfish, complain, and push back against what is hard or not fun. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to change our mentality toward our work.
“When we learn to live and work for His pleasure, man’s recognition will become less important.”
Second, incorporate thanksgiving throughout your day. Even if your job is tough, find small things to thank the Lord for—a pen that writes nicely, a friendly smile from a customer, a quiet bathroom break, a child’s laugh. Thank Him for these gifts, and then thank Him for the ability to work, to have a job, to be in this unique place to spread His aroma.
Finally, choose one small thing each day to do differently. Hopefully you’re striving for excellence in all areas of your work, but each day challenge yourself to incorporate one change for the better. Look for a place you’ve grown apathetic, something you do on autopilot, or a task that you could improve by doing it slightly differently. This will help your brain to not get settled in a rut and keep you actively thinking about how to honor the Lord in all ways.
And what if no one sees the effort you put in or the sacrifices you’re making? Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” God always sees your effort and sacrifice, and He is pleased by it. When we learn to live and work for His pleasure, man’s recognition will become less important.
As we do so, the aroma of Christ will become stronger. An apathetic world just might wake up to the scent and be drawn to it.
Lydia is a teacher, poet, and blogger, who serves various ministries here at Faith. You can read more of her writing and subscribe to her blog at lydiakinne.com.
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