Why Your Job Matters in the Kingdom
I can still remember the day, about a decade ago, that I sat down in front of my boss for my review. At this point in my career, I was working in the office for a company that specialized in lawn and garden attachments. I liked this new job, but over the course of my life, I mostly felt like what I did for work didn’t matter to anyone; I was always looking to do something different with my life that would really make a difference in this world. Isn’t that what everyone wants? Deep down, doesn’t everyone want to matter, to know their life makes a difference in something?
In this moment, my resume was filled with mundane tasks, like curbside deliveries, delivering pizza, organizing shoes on shelves, sweeping office floors, entering numbers into general ledgers, taking meeting notes, unplugging toilets, and asking “would you like lemon with your tea?” Impressive, huh? I didn’t think it was.
When I thought of my boss conducting my review, I thought her impact was so much greater than mine in terms of her role in the company, so I did not expect the strange plot twist she was about to provide. Though I expected a traditional review, I began to listen as my boss shared what she loved about our town and all the different ways our company was able to give back. She described the people she knew and loved within our company: those who worked in the factory, customer service, sales, technical support, finance, and inside the corporate offices. All were doing their best to support their families.
What she said next has stuck with me for years: everyone working together to do their best makes the company a success. Every person is valued and loved. Every person matters. Because of their dedication and the difference they make in the workplace, this company is able to give back to the whole community.
Sitting there at that point in time, I remember feeling inspired in a whole new way. This person, one whom I had put on some sort of grand platform in my mind, had just told me that I was just as important as she is, that I mattered just as much as she did, and that what I was doing was making a difference in my community. I felt so empowered!
What I realized then is this: Empowered people empower people. This realization inspired a new journey for me, which launched me into a passion for community service. I began serving at a local church and offering my organizational skills in any way they were needed. And after developing in this passion for serving my community (a process of about seven years), my volunteer role at the church turned into a full-time pastor position, one I hold today.
At this point, I should debunk some myths about my role as a pastor. First, I didn’t leave my previous job to have a more fulfilling job. Being filled and having a purpose doesn’t come from a job: it comes from knowing your identity in Christ and that what you currently do matters. The transition into pastoring was done with both my previous employer and the church working together to make a smooth transition.
Also, my role as a pastor isn’t filled with six days of praise and worship time with God, followed by a day to preach (although that would be awesome). The majority of my time is spent in… believe it or not… delivering food, organizing, cleaning, entering info into calendars and spreadsheets, taking meeting notes and yes, unplugging toilets, most everything from my original resume! Once in a while, I have the privilege of preaching.
So, where is your heart posture when it comes to your career or current profession? What’s on your resume? Whatever is on that resume matters. If you struggle to discover how it matters, it may be something you will need to ask God about. But here are some service-based industries where I see the hand of God:
Food Service: You are actually serving that food to Jesus himself and someone He loves is with him. (Matthew 25:35)
Cleaning Service: Every time you wipe scum away, think about defeating the scum of the earth: Satan and his minions. They can’t come against the power of your spray bottle! Yes it may sound silly, but if you really pray against the power of darkness and for the Light of the World with every spray, wipe, and item you touch, you will absolutely break the chains that bind those you love! (Mark 9:29)
Office Administration: You have the beautiful task of taking someone else’s vision and making sure it happens smoothly. Being able to humble yourself over and over again while you help someone else achieve a vision sets you up for success with Jesus. (Proverbs 11:2)
Customer Service: Bless you! God has equipped you to stand firm in the face of adversity, to be called every name possible, to be told everything wrong is your fault, and to be treated like the scum of the earth. In other words, God has equipped you to be Jesus for someone. Whoa! You have the unique opportunity to show the world how to love everyone, including the unlovable! (Matthew 5:38-48)
Regardless of your job, you are empowered to be a world changer for Christ, and He has you in the right place to do it, even if that placement is hard to understand right now. I’m not saying there is never a time to switch jobs. Obviously, that time comes sometime. I’ve done it myself. I am saying, check your motives before you move onto the next thing simply because you think this role doesn't matter. Ask God to show you how what you do every day, all day, matters. Then, believe what He says and do what you are doing with confidence! You’ll start to see Him placing you in situations to carry out His vision and plans, right where you are.
Jamie Crosier
The Vineyard Church // Sullivan, IL
