Work, Worship, and the Glory of God

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Work, Worship, and the Glory of God

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

Is Work Separate from Worship?

For many Christians, worship is what happens on Sundays—singing, praying, and gathering as the church. Work, on the other hand, is what happens from Monday to Friday, often feeling disconnected from faith. But Scripture teaches that work itself is a form of worship when done with the right heart and purpose.

Tim Keller writes in Every Good Endeavor that many believers fall into the trap of the sacred-secular divide, seeing some activities (like prayer or evangelism) as “spiritual” and others (like accounting, engineering, or parenting) as “worldly.” But this is a false distinction. In reality, all of life—including our daily work—is meant to glorify God.

Worship is More Than Singing

The Bible uses the word worship in a way that includes all of life, not just singing songs. Romans 12:1 says:

“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

This means that everything we do—how we work, how we interact with colleagues, how we handle our responsibilities—can be an offering to God.

Biblical Examples of Work as Worship

Throughout Scripture, we see ordinary work described as worship:

  • Bezalel and Oholiab (Exodus 31:1-5) were craftsmen filled with God’s Spirit to build the Tabernacle. Their work—designing, carving, and constructing—was an act of worship.
  • Daniel (Daniel 6:3-5) was so excellent in his work as a government official that even his enemies could find no corruption in him. His commitment to integrity was part of his devotion to God.
  • Jesus spent most of His life as a carpenter (Mark 6:3), showing that even manual labour is valuable in God’s kingdom.

How to Work as Worship

Paul tells the Colossians;

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). 

This means:

  • Excellence – Doing your work well reflects God’s character.
  • Integrity – Honoring God in how you work (honesty, diligence, kindness) is a testimony to others.
  • Service – Viewing your work as a way to serve others shifts the focus from self to God’s mission.
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Work as a Calling, Not Just a Career

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23

Work in God's Design

For many, work is a necessary burden—a means to pay the bills, fund hobbies, or reach retirement. But the Bible presents a different perspective: work is a calling, not just a career. It is part of God’s original design for humanity, a way we partner with Him in shaping the world.

Tim Keller, in Every Good Endeavor, argues that we often view work through one of three lenses:

  1. Work as a job – A way to earn money and survive.
  2. Work as a career – A means of achieving status and success.
  3. Work as a calling – A vocation given by God to serve others and bring renewal.

When we understand work as a calling, we see it as an act of worship, no matter what job we do.

Work Before the Fall

Genesis 1:28 records God’s first commission to humanity:

“Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

This is often called the Cultural Mandate—God’s invitation for humans to cultivate, build, and develop the world. Work was not a punishment for sin; it was a gift from the beginning. Adam was placed in the garden to work it and keep it (Gen. 2:15), showing that our labor is meant to reflect God's creative and sustaining work.

The Distortion of Work

After the Fall, work became frustrating and filled with toil (Gen. 3:17-19). Instead of being a joyful act of creation, it became burdened with pain, competition, and burnout. Many of us experience work in this broken way—either idolizing it or resenting it.

Keller warns against two distortions:

  • Work as an Idol – When work becomes our identity, we seek meaning and security from our success rather than from God.
  • Work as a Burden – When work is just a means to an end, we become disengaged and fail to see its spiritual value.

Redeeming Work Through Christ

Jesus’ life and work demonstrate the dignity of labor. He spent most of His years on earth as a carpenter before His public ministry, showing that all work, when done for God's glory, has value.

Colossians 3:23 calls us to work “heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” This means:

  • Your work matters to God, whether you're a teacher, engineer, artist, or stay-at-home parent.
  • The way you work—your integrity, diligence, and creativity—reflects Christ.
  • Every job is an opportunity to serve others and contribute to human flourishing.

Reflection Questions

  • Do you see your work as a calling? Why or why not?
  • How has sin distorted your view of work—through idolatry or resentment?
  • How can you begin to see your job as an opportunity to serve God and others?

Practical Exercise:

Complete the Whatever You Do Calling Worksheet. If you would like to discuss it with someone, please get in touch!

Additional Resources

Photo by Jack Douglass on Unsplash

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

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