Work as an Identity in the New Year

As we move into yet another year, the first question we should contemplate is where work as an identity fits into my New Year’s resolutions.  Keep in mind that the first act in human history is God working.  God was working before creation.  Genesis One describes a God that is continually working.  God is always moving; He is always doing something.  Work is a declaration of God’s identity.  Our identity is grounded in God’s identity, which is that of a working God.  So, what should we resolve to do in the new year regarding work?

Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."

“To the degree that we embrace the truth that our identity is not rooted in our success, power, or popularity, but in God’s infinite love, to that degree can we let go of our need to judge.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen, Here and Now: Living in the Spirit

REST

If the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy.

Before we can resolve how much to do, we must understand how much we can rest from doing.  Rest is not the act of doing nothing; it is the rejuvenation of our soul so that we can continue to work; resting in work, not from work; rest is the natural extension of work.  To live in synchronicity with God is to rest.  There is dignity in all work; all work is dignified in the eyes of God.  Rest is not the equivalent of doing nothing.

Genesis 2:2, "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."

God rested from the work of creating.  Rest can be listening, seeing, thinking, or praying; all can be acts of worship if centered on God.  Resting can be mowing the lawn if that is your way of relaxing.  Resting can be any activity that brings you closer to God.

You can mistake adrenaline for the power of the spirit.  If there is no rest, there is no sustainable productivity.  Set aside a day every week where you let God guide your activities.  Spend time living with God, not just for God.

AMBITION

I am excellent not because of who I compete against but because of who I work for.

Another characteristic we must understand about ourselves is ambition.  How much and what kind of ambition should I have?  Ambition is an attribute of God’s identity.  In Genesis, God said it was very good.  He was impressed with His own creation.  He recognized a job well done.

Genesis 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:25, "And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1: 31, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good"

Do we believe that our work matters because we matter, or is it the other way around; we matter only if our work matters.  Our satisfaction does not come from the work we are assigned, but the fact that we matter is why God gave us work to do.  In everything we do, physical work, thinking, reading, or listening, we are to glorify God in the way we do it.  Work is a resource for us to demonstrate who God is.  We are flawed stewards, not proprietors.  Everything we have is God’s, given to us to manage, not to possess.  Our work is a resource God gives us to manage, not own.  Our ambition should be centered on doing a job well because it is an attribute of who we are in Christ, not because it gets us ahead in the world.

Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Nothing defames God more than a lazy Christian at work.  Your work is a gift from God to expand His kingdom here on Earth.  Not doing your best demonstrates to others a lazy God who does not value work.

BOREDOM

Discipline is the pathway to freedom.

Boredom, under-challenged or misplaced priorities, leads to arrogance and despair.  Burnout is not a function of overwork but a function of how we work; where do we find our identity?  Our identity in Christ is about putting our emotions between the banks of the river.  Because what we are doing amplifies God’s blessings in our life, not our worldly identity, we need to get up from self-introspection, put God’s plan for our life in gear, and think about our concept of identity later.  We can not let the world’s view of success interfere with God’s plan.  Burnout may be a manifestation of being misaligned with God’s plan for your life.  It is not the work itself but the nature of the work.

Ephesians 5:15-16, "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil."

Trying to satisfy the world’s hunger for success is not sustainable; if what God gave you is not enough, or if God Himself is not enough, then nothing is enough.

Who is your boss?  To whom are you responsible?  Who are you afraid of disappointing?

WE ARE NEVER NOT REPRESENTING JESUS

Accountability, Attitude, and Responsibility belong to us.  We never are not representing Jesus.  We own excellence.  Our attitude is not determined by our work context but by who we serve.  We are the salt of the world, and we are the light of the world;  we are not becoming salt and light; we are.  The way we work is an expression of who we are in Christ.

If we allow our success to go to our head because we identify with the work we do, not who we serve, we will constantly be dealing with exhaustion, depression, and a lack of self-worth.  Everything comes from God for use to glorify Him.

In 2024, resolve to reflect who you are in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26, "There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor.  This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.  "