Something we see in the Scriptures here is the display of work and its meaningfulness. We also see the relationship of work and rest displayed in God’s example. And we see that God’s work is this beautiful, pure, good, wise, and life-giving.

Work has become such a bitter word for us, and indeed, much work can be bitter because it is only driven by necessity and not goodness and godliness. One of the cries of the human heart is this need to have a work that is meaningful, and our generation is doing a lot to try and find the path for this.

Our generation tends to fall to one of two sides—we either live purely by necessity in our work, and then try to find meaning in pleasures work gives us a way for, or we can adopt a mindset of having a meaningful existence in being raised above the meager works rooted in serving the necessities and cares most people have, and doing a work outside of these. There is often a despising of the work that is simply meeting needs—to be a dentist, to do child care, work in a restaurant or as a cashier, and to instead see meaningful work as doing something leading to fame, play, or wealth. We are slow to realize just how much contempt this sort of mindset can create, and how truly selfish it can be.

The challenge for us as Christians is to not obey the world’s ideas of meaning, or efforts after it, but to understand what God says on this.

In one part, we need to see the contempt there is upon the “lowly” works of meeting necessity and doing care work. This is something historically rooted in oppression and inequality among humanity. Where one group of people tries to force and resign another group of people to this work, in order that they might do the “greater” or more enjoyable work. There is nothing more self-seeking and self-elevating than this attitude, and yet it goes on in the church’s midst!

When we are trying to understand the path to meaning in work, we should be very careful to identify this sort of contempt, and this sort of method to finding meaning in finding some sort of “elevation”. What is sadly very common in our society is a business for self in this manner, where one is chasing wealth, fame, or pleasure, not looking at if their work is truly taking part in the health and good of the society at large. How sad that we despise the professions that literally give the most to our society! I have heard a talk show host scoff at a woman talking about going to school to be a dentist—we need dentists! As if only working in entertainment or being famous gives worth. But what does fame do for our neighbor?

We should see in God that His work is that kind which is good and is full of true substance. We should care to have work in our lives that is real substance and meat for others. That is adding to this world instead of expecting the world to be sustained by others while we pursue whatever we wish. How guilty so many are in our society who expect our society to be upheld, cared for, and sustained while they have no part in doing so. This is the guilt of the rich as well as the poor.

As we address this first issue within finding meaning in our work, we then must see that meaning in our work is found in living for God. The purpose of life for each of us is to know God truly, to serve God as fully as we can, and to be conformed to the nature of Jesus Christ (to be holy in spirit and body). This is the great path to a meaningful life. To do this is the way to have our lives count for something.

The challenge in this is to understand how to do this with our lives. Many of us fall into the error of trying to be “great” in the name of God, and so begin the very same worldly quest, just in our religion. The same burning selfish ambition and pride, the same elevating of ourselves over others, instead of stooping to do the real work. But for all of us, it is not to be “great” but to be godly. It is to work for God and to belong to God in our lives.

What we have today is generally two types of Christians. We have the one that is busy trying to be “great”, claiming they do this for God when it is nothing more than selfish ambition and pride. And the other is one who has set aside seeking this in order to indulge in idleness and the lie of their responsibility being removed. Both of these are very guilty, and very dangerous ways to try and live.

The true path is a humble godliness. To love God and to seek to humbly serve Him in all that is good and godly. It is born from a love of righteousness and the great wisdom and goodness of God. If we do not love God’s righteousness, nor labor to truly know and understand Him and His ways, then we cannot hope to truly serve Him. Many “work” for God who do not know God. Many preach for “God” who only preach their own understanding and desires of God.

The question for all of us to answer is what does it mean to truly come to know God? What does it look like for us to serve Him fully within our lives as they are? (Not thinking we need to go be great for God, but to live godly and holy lives fully unto God where we are). What does it really mean to love God? What does it mean to truly be holy and walk in godliness as Christ would show us? The answer to these questions is how to have a meaningful life.

One of the greatest parts of our lives is our work. To learn to do our work from the motivation of love for God and humble service to those around us is how to put life and depth into our work. This is where we begin to see work not from some “appearance”, but we see the value within it. To do work from right motives of goodwill and regard to God, and not from selfish ambition and pride. This will also teach us respect for all people who do their work honestly and humbly.

The path of a meaningful existence in our work is rescuing our work to belong to God, to work for God in our work.

This was the incredible wisdom that God gave to those enslaved, who had no power to escape their circumstances. We would think that only in being able to escape such circumstances would our work and lives be meaningful, but God met people where they truly were, showing them to work unto God, and to do good, despising where they found themselves and what those around them did. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Col 3:23) “Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.” (Eph 6:8)

God shows the path of doing good into the world around us, and this is done under God and unto God.