Episodi

  • New Series: Work in Heaven

    New Series: Work in Heaven

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Work in Heaven
    Devotional: 1 of 5

    See, I will create new heavens and a new earth
.my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain. (Isaiah 65:17, 22-23)

    I talk a lot about the work God’s Word promises we will do for eternity. But I know this is a wild and new idea for many. If that’s you, let me bring you up to speed in three bullets:

    Nobody will spend eternity “in heaven.” God promises to bring heaven to earth and to dwell with us here forever (see Revelation 21:1-5).While the present heaven is marked by rest (see Revelation 14:13), the New Earth is marked by active service and worship (see Revelation 22:3-5).We will worship God not just by singing but by long enjoying the work of our hands (see Isaiah 65:17-23).

    With those foundational truths under our feet, I’ll use the rest of this series to share 5 biblical truths about the nature of work on the New Earth. The first is seen clearly in today’s passage: We who are in Christ will delight in our work for eternity.

    Why? Because we will be with God fully (see Revelation 21:1-5) and our work will be free from the curse of sin (see Revelation 22:3). Which is exactly what God intended from the beginning (see Genesis 1:26-28)!

    It’s hard to imagine how glorious this will be. Thankfully, Rudyard Kipling imagined it for us in a beautiful poem I’ve hung on my office wall:

    When Earth’s last picture is painted,
    And the tubes are twisted and dried,
    When the oldest colors have faded,
    And the youngest critic has died,
    We shall rest, and faith, we shall need it,
    Lie down for an aeon or two,
    ’Till the Master of All Good Workmen
    Shall put us to work anew. . . .
    And no one shall work for the money.
    And no one shall work for fame.
    But each for the joy of the working,
    And each, in his separate star,
    Shall draw the Thing as he sees It
    For the God of Things as They are!

    But that could be way off in the future. What does this mean for your work today? Let me suggest a practical response to the truth that we will one day delight in our work for eternity.

    First, make a physical or digital list of things you hate about your current work. Difficulty hearing God’s voice, co-workers who can’t meet deadlines, the exhaustion that comes from grinding just to make ends meet, etc.

    Second, put a line through the middle of each item and write “Isaiah 65” at the top of your list as a means of physically representing the hope of today’s passage.

    Finally, pray every time you see the list. Pray for relief from those thorns and thistles. Praise God for how these challenges drive you to him. And praise him for the promise that one day, you will “long enjoy” your work free from these current frustrations.

  • How to be content while striving for the next thing

    How to be content while striving for the next thing

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
    Devotional: 5 of 5

    Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

    Today concludes our series exploring couplets of biblical truths that God calls us to hold in tension. Here’s our final piece of double-sided wisdom: Desire Good Things AND Be Content in All Things.

    Many Christians don’t feel permission to desire. But Scripture gives it to us repeatedly! In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus encouraged his followers to “ask” for “good gifts.” And Psalm 37:4 urges us to "take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

    So, while Scripture condemns fleshly desires (see Galatians 5:16-17), it clearly commends good and God-honoring desires like landing a promotion so you can serve more people or earning more income so you can give more generously.

    But the flip side of this double-sided wisdom is to “be content with what you have” (see Hebrews 13:5). So, God delights in his children’s good desires and he also calls us to be content. The question I’m often asking is this: How can you and I cultivate contentment while simultaneously desiring the next thing? Here are three ideas.

    #1: Measure progress backward rather than forward. When I’m chasing after a big goal, I default to measuring progress forward—between where I am now and where I desire to be. But I’m learning the wisdom of measuring progress backward—between where I am now and where I was before as a means of cultivating gratitude and contentment as I strive for what’s next.

    I have actually done this physically in my office, by putting the books God has already allowed me to publish on the bookshelf behind where I sit as I look forward onto my laptop and whatever I’m striving for next.

    #2: Praise God for anything he has given you beyond food and clothing. In 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Paul says that “if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” Why? Because that’s all Jesus promised his followers materially (see Matthew 6:28-33)! And that perspective should lead us to awe and contentment that God has given us anything else in addition to what he promised.

    #3: Refuse to strive one day a week. One thing that makes biblical Sabbath distinct from the other six days of the week is the intentional cessation of striving. My family loves the life-giving discipline of simply enjoying what God has already given us while refusing to discuss or work on what’s next. If holding the tension between desiring good things and being content with what you have is a challenge for you, give Sabbath a shot.

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  • 3 ways to exude confidence AND humility at work today

    3 ways to exude confidence AND humility at work today

    · The Word Before Work

    Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com

    --

    Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
    Devotional: 4 of 5

    Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

    We’re in a series exploring five pieces of “double-sided wisdom” we see throughout God’s Word. Today we come to the paradoxical couplet of biblical charges to Be Confident AND Stay Humble.

    The call to confidence is found in passages like 2 Timothy 1:7 which says that “the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power.”

    But you can hear the flip side of this double-sided wisdom—the call to humility—in passages like Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle.”

    How do we reconcile these two seemingly conflicting commands? By recognizing that the source of our confidence is the Lord! That’s what Paul is telling us in today’s passage. His confidence in his work was not sourced in what he thought of himself or what others said about him. His confidence and competence came from God.

    So it is with you and me. We don’t exude confidence at work because we think we’re awesome. We’re confident because we humbly recognize it is the Awesome God who works in and through us (see Philippians 2:13).

    So, what does it look like practically to model both confidence and humility in the workplace? Here are three ideas.

    #1: Set bigger, more God-honoring goals. Christians should be known for setting the biggest goals on the planet. Because we are confident that God is able to do “immeasurably more than we
imagine” through us (Ephesians 3:20). And the bigger our goals, the more we will be humbly driven to our knees, forced to rely on the Lord.

    #2: Stay confident that you can but humble that you know how. It’s one thing to be confident about the vision you think God has called you to at work. It’s another thing to be arrogant about how to get that work done. Christians should be set apart in holding the “how” of projects loosely, open to the wisdom God has given to believers and non-believers alike.

    #3: Boast about your weaknesses. It’s become cliche when you’re asked in an interview, “What’s your greatest weakness?” to reply with a strength disguised as a weakness. But what if you boasted about an actual weakness and pointed out how, despite that fault, God has enabled you to achieve so much in your career? That would preach! And it would be following Paul’s example of boasting in weaknesses “so that Christ’s power may rest on [you]” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

    Confidence and humility need not be opposites for the believer. Embody both as God works through you today!

  • Jesus would likely push back against “self-care” in this important way


    Jesus would likely push back against “self-care” in this important way…

    · The Word Before Work

    Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com

    --

    Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
    Devotional: 3 of 5

    
because so many people were coming and going that [the apostles] did not even have a chance to eat, [Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31-32)

    Job 11:6 says that, “True wisdom has two sides.” Which is why we’re exploring five pieces of “double-sided wisdom” in this series—couplets of paradoxical truths that God calls us to hold in tension. Here’s today’s: Enjoy Self-Care AND Embrace Self-Sacrifice.

    We see Jesus modeling the first side of this double-sided wisdom throughout the gospels as he “often withdrew to lonely places” for some peace, quiet, and prayer (Luke 5:16). And in today’s passage, we see Jesus offering self-care to his followers (see Mark 6:31-32).

    And yet, the dominant theme of Jesus’s life was not self-care but self-sacrifice, the flip side of this double-sided wisdom. For “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (see Matthew 20:28).

    So, Jesus made time for self-care and he modeled self-sacrifice. How did he hold these ideas in tension? Matthew 14 offers us a case study to that end.

    Verses 1–12 records Jesus hearing the news that his beloved cousin John the Baptist had been beheaded. The first half of verse 13 tells us that “when Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately.” Clearly, he longed for self-care for his mind and soul.

    But the crowds wouldn’t let him have it. The second half of verse 13 tells us that “hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.”

    If there were ever a time when it would have been understandable for Jesus to choose self-care over self-sacrifice, it’s right here. But remarkably, Jesus doesn’t. Verse 14 says that “when Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

    Many times, self-care and self-sacrifice were not at odds for Jesus. But when they did compete, he always chose self-sacrifice. You and I are called to do the same (see Matthew 20:26-28, Romans 12:1, and Luke 9:23).

    Practically, this might look like scheduling workouts before work for your own self-care—but being willing to sacrifice that workout when your spouse needs help on a difficult morning with the kids. Or prioritizing your self-care by setting clear boundaries on when you will and will not work—but being willing to sacrifice those boundaries when a hurting co-worker wants to grab a drink after work.

    Embrace the way of Jesus by making time for self-care today. But ask God to prepare your heart to choose self-sacrifice when necessary for his glory and the good of others!

  • 3 practices for planning for tomorrow without worrying about tomorrow

    3 practices for planning for tomorrow without worrying about tomorrow

    · The Word Before Work

    Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com

    --

    Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
    Devotional: 2 of 5

    Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)

    We’re in a series exploring five pieces of “double-sided wisdom” we see in Scripture. Today we come to the couplet of biblical commands to Plan for Tomorrow AND Focus on Today.

    The virtues of the first side of this double-sided wisdom can be seen in Proverbs 21:5: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Jesus echoed this idea in Luke 14:28-30 where he assumes that a good worker will “first sit down and estimate the cost” before “building a tower.”

    In these passages and others, we see that it is wise to plan for the future. But the flip side of this double-sided wisdom is to “not worry about tomorrow” and focus on today (see Matthew 6:34).

    So, how can we both plan for tomorrow and stay focused on today? Here are three practices that work for me.

    #1: Schedule recurring times on your calendar to plan for the future. If you fail to plan for tomorrow, you plan to fail and worry tomorrow. Which is why I have three recurring items on my calendar: a quarterly, weekly, and daily review to plan what I will work on in the upcoming quarter, week, and day. This level of planning massively helps me not worry about tomorrow. Why? Because, to quote David Allen, “You can only feel good about what you're not doing when you know what you're not doing.” These reviews help ensure that I know what I’m choosing not to do.

    #2: Block tomorrow’s worries from your physical view. The Daily Review I mentioned above is the only time I look at my calendar for tomorrow. Once my review is complete, I set my calendar back to show today only. That simple habit removes a ton of temptation to worry about tomorrow, allowing me to focus on what I believe God has called me to do today.

    #3: When you’re feeling worried about tomorrow, take it to the Lord in prayer. Anxiety is the symptom that we’re not holding the tension between planning for the future and focusing on today well. When you experience symptoms of anxiety—tense muscles, a wandering mind, shallow breathing, etc.—“by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

    With those practices in hand, go forth and focus fully on the good works God has for you today!

  • New Series: Double-Sided Wisdom

    New Series: Double-Sided Wisdom

    · The Word Before Work

    Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com

    --

    Series: Double-Sided Wisdom
    Devotional: 1 of 5

    “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:39-40)

    My readers frequently tell me that they love my ability to extract wisdom from God’s Word and apply it to their work. I love that too, of course. But one of my greatest fears is that in our well-intentioned pursuit of living by “biblical principles,” we will become what author Jen Wilkin calls “Bible-worshippers” rather than “God-worshippers.”

    That’s the red flag we see Jesus raising in today’s passage. Commenting on these verses, pastor Skye Jethani articulates this danger poignantly: “Discovering and applying [biblical] principles does not actually require a relationship with God
.the Christian can put these new principles into practice without God being involved. God can be set aside while we remain in control of our lives. He may be praised, thanked, and worshipped for giving us his wise precepts for life, but as with an absentee watchmaker, God’s present participation is altogether optional.”

    Is that convicting to you? It is for me. And those words bring me to the first piece of double-sided wisdom of this series: the biblical commands to Study the Word AND Seek the Author.

    The biblical evidence for the “Study the Word” side of this double-sided wisdom is clear: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). “I cannot truly be a God-worshipper without loving the Bible deeply and reverently,” says Jen Wilkin. “Otherwise, I worship an unknown god.”

    But study of God’s Word is a means to an end, and the end is God himself. That’s the flip side of this double-sided wisdom and what Jesus was getting at in today’s passage. “Eternal life” is not found in God’s Word, but in Jesus Christ—the Word who became flesh.

    So, how can we hold this tension well? How can we study the Scriptures while ensuring we are seeking the Savior above all else? Here are three ideas.

    #1: Calculate how much time you spent studying the Word versus seeking the Author this past week. Of course, there’s no biblically prescribed ratio of Bible study to prayer. But this quick analysis can be a helpful diagnostic of where you’re at today.

    #2: When you close your Bible, open your heart in prayer. Martin Luther was a master at this. As much as Luther loved the Word, he loved God more and refused to finish his “quiet time” before conversing with his Father about what he just read. To see how Luther did this, read page 18 of Redeeming Your Time for free here.

    #3: Resolve to spend more time listening to God than any other teacher of the Word—

    including myself. Because while biblical principles are good and valuable, they are worthless without a relationship with the One who authored them.

  • God showed me how this “best practice” was hurting the poor

    God showed me how this “best practice” was hurting the poor

    · The Word Before Work

    Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com

    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs
    Devotional: 7 of 7

    She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. (Proverbs 31:19-20)

    The woman of Proverbs 31 described in today’s passage teaches us an important lesson about work and generosity—namely, that the two can be inextricably linked. As my friends at The Theology of Work Project explain:

    Because she is successful in spinning, she has something to give to the poor, and conversely, her generous spirit is an essential element of her capability as an entrepreneur/executive. In other words, Proverbs claims that generosity and fiduciary duty do not conflict. Being generous to the needy out of the household’s resources does not reduce the owner’s wealth, but increases it.

    Because God will always, always reward the kindness we show to the poor (see Proverbs 19:17). Sometimes in this life and sometimes in the life to come.

    Jesus said this most famously in the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy” (Matthew 6:19-20).

    “Christ’s primary argument against amassing material wealth isn’t that it’s morally wrong but simply that it’s a poor investment,” says Dr. Randy Alcorn. “Jesus doesn’t say to do it because it’s right but because it’s smart. Because such treasures will last, Jesus argues from the bottom line. It’s not an emotional appeal; it’s a logical one.”

    Amen. So, how can you and I invest in what lasts by being kind to the poor through our work today?

    #1: Respectfully question any practices that might be disadvantaging the poor. Last year I followed the “best practices” of my industry by giving people a 20% discount if they paid for my retreat upfront instead of spreading payments out over three months. Who did that disadvantage? The very people who most needed the financial break! Thankfully, God revealed this error in my ways and gave me a chance to repent. Take a second right now to ask God which practices within your organization might be harming the poor.

    #2: Advocate for a benevolence fund at your company to help employees in times of crisis, such as unexpected medical expenses, housing issues, or natural disasters.

    #3: Volunteer your professional skills to a non-profit that supports the poor.

    Again, don’t take actions like these just because they are the right response to the gospel. Take them because they’re wise.

    Proverbs 19:17 says that “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Take God at his word and make the wise investment to be generous to the poor today!

  • How to get constructive and sanctifying feedback from others

    How to get constructive and sanctifying feedback from others

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs
    Devotional: 6 of 7

    Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Proverbs 27:5-6)

    According to the Harvard Business Review, “By roughly a three to one margin, [employees] believe [that corrective feedback] does even more to improve their performance than positive feedback.” In other words, most people accept the wisdom of today’s proverb that an “open rebuke” is “better” than “hidden love.”

    There’s just one problem. While the vast majority of us prefer constructive criticism to pats on the back, “only 5 percent believe managers provide such feedback.”

    So, what can you and I do to encourage others to correct us in love? Here are four ideas.

    #1: Offer the gift of open but loving rebuke to others. This can be tough for Christians who feel the call to be kind. But you and I aren’t called just to be nice. We’re called to love as Christ loved us (see John 13:34), and he often rebuked those he loved (see Matthew 16:23 and Luke 9:37-56).

    “You don’t get crucified for being a people pleaser,” says pastor John Mark Comer. Jesus was a people lover, not a people pleaser, who knew that true love says hard things graciously. We must do the same. And when we do, we will make it easier for others to correct us in love.

    #2: Give at least one boss, client, co-worker, or friend explicit permission to rebuke you when necessary. Here’s a sample message you can copy and send right now:

    I’ve been reflecting on Proverbs 27:5-6 and I feel convicted to invite more open and honest feedback into my life. If you ever see something in me that you’d recommend I change to better serve others or better reflect my values, PLEASE don’t hesitate to tell me!

    #3: Choose a question you will begin asking to draw constructive feedback out of friends and colleagues. Here are three ideas:

    Where do you think I am least like Jesus?What’s something you’ve wanted to tell me but haven’t for fear that you’d offend me?What can I start or stop doing that would make it easier to work with me?

    #4: Embrace the awkwardness. As the author of Radical Candor points out, if you ask one of the questions above, “No matter how good your question is, the person you ask won’t want to answer it. The only way out of this uncomfortable moment is through it.” So ask one of the questions above and then say nothing. Mentally count to five and refuse to break the awkward silence.

    Seeking out “open rebuke” is not easy. But remember, “wounds from a friend can be trusted” (Proverbs 27:6). Embrace the discomfort for your sanctification, God’s glory, and the good of others!

  • Ignoring this proverb cost Yahoo more than $7 million

    Ignoring this proverb cost Yahoo more than $7 million

    · The Word Before Work

    Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com

    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs
    Devotional: 5 of 7

    Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by. (Proverbs 26:10)

    In 2012, the CEO of Yahoo was fired just months after getting the job when an investor discovered that the CEO had lied on his rĂ©sumĂ© about holding a bachelor’s degree in computer science.

    The CEO lost his job. The company was forced to pay out $7 million in severance. And Yahoo’s employees lost a leader and direction.

    Who was to blame for all this destruction? The CEO, of course. But also, to quote the Wall Street Journal, the "botched vetting" of the CEO by Yahoo’s Board of Directors who seem to have been in a rush to fill the position.

    That’s a dramatic example of what can happen when we fail to heed the warning in today’s passage. The manager who hires too quickly is bound to hire a “fool.” She is “like an archer who wounds at random,” harming herself, the “fool” she hires, and the rest of her team.

    How can we avoid being the archer today’s proverb is describing? Let me offer a couple of ideas for both employers and employees.

    First, some advice for employers.

    #1: Refuse to settle for eights. I have a personal rule that I will pass on hiring someone unless my team and I can say the person is a “nine or ten” on a ten-point scale measuring how confident we are that the candidate is the right fit for the role. The few times I’ve broken that rule I’ve regretted it. Learn from my mistakes. If a candidate is a 7 or an 8, keep looking for their good and yours.

    #2: Never hire alone. Always bring others into the process. Even if you’re a solopreneur, ask a spouse or trusted advisor to interview your first hire. “In an abundance of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14), and a reason to slow down your hiring.

    Now, some advice for employees.

    #1: Offer to help your employer hire new team members. Take it from me: Oftentimes managers don't ask employees to be involved in the hiring of new employees because they don't want to put more on your plate. But you can serve them by offering to help. That serves your boss, your colleagues, and yourself by decreasing the chances you all will be “wounded” by a hire made in haste.

    #2: Don’t be the fool God’s Word is describing. “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings” (Proverbs 22:29). Develop your skills in order to be of greater service to the kings of this earth, and more importantly, the King of Heaven and Earth, Jesus Christ.

  • How to say “no” more frequently and “yes” less quickly

    How to say “no” more frequently and “yes” less quickly

    · The Word Before Work

    Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com

    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs
    Devotional: 4 of 7

    It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. (Proverbs 20:25)

    How many times have you and I fallen into the “trap” this proverb is warning us against?

    I’ve said “yes” to projects at work only to later renegotiate the deadline I could have never hit. I’ve agreed to volunteer at church only to grumble and complain about the commitment on Sunday morning.

    Sound familiar?

    You and I need practical ways to avoid the trap of saying “yes” too quickly and flippantly. Here are four practices that typically work for me.

    #1: Delay every “yes” by at least 24 hours. It is really hard to say “no” if you feel pressured to give an answer to a request for your time the moment you’re asked. So, the next time you’re asked to dedicate your time to something, do whatever you can to delay responding for at least a day. Buy yourself some time by saying, “Let me sleep on it,” “Let me check with my spouse,” or “Let me check my calendar and current commitments and get back to you.”

    #2: Assume the commitment will take 50% more time than you expect. It is human nature to underestimate how much time a new commitment will take, both in hours spent on the core task and what Cal Newport calls the “overhead tax” of saying “yes” (unexpectedly long email threads related to the commitment, meetings associated with the project, etc.). So, before you agree to take something new on, assume the commitment will take 50% longer than you think.

    #3: Seek out godly counsel before saying “yes” to something that exceeds a certain time threshold. If I’m considering dedicating more than 25 hours to something, you better believe I’m going to ask some Christian friends for wisdom before I say “yes.” Why? Because “the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15).

    #4: Remember that saying “no” is oftentimes the most loving thing you can do. Contrary to our caricature of Jesus as a nice guy who always said “yes,” sometimes Jesus said “no” out of love (see Mark 1:35-38). We must do the same. When you “dedicate something rashly and only later” consider what you signed up for, you’re not going to be able to give your “yes” your all. Which means you’re likely to do harm to yourself and those you promised to serve.

    Whatever decision you’re facing today, ask the Lord for his grace in helping you avoid the “trap” of saying “yes” too quickly.

  • 2 ways to avoid the sin of “shoddy work”

    2 ways to avoid the sin of “shoddy work”

    · The Word Before Work

    Sign-up for my free 20-day devotional, The Word Before Work Foundations, at http://TWBWFoundations.com

    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs
    Devotional: 3 of 7

    One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys. (Proverbs 18:9)

    There were many causes of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986. But a culture of “slack” work was undeniably a contributing factor. In his book, Midnight in Chernobyl, Adam Higginbotham explains that:

    The quality of workmanship at all levels of Soviet manufacturing was so poor that building projects
were forced to incorporate an extra stage known as ‘preinstallation overhaul.’ Upon delivery from the factory, each piece of new equipment—transformers, turbines, switching gear—was stripped down to the last nut and bolt, checked for faults, repaired, and then reassembled according to the original specifications, as it should have been in the first place.

    That’s an extreme example of what Solomon says in today’s passage—namely that mediocre work “destroys.”

    Of course, it’s unlikely that poor performance in your job is going to lead to a nuclear meltdown today. But it can absolutely destroy trust, relationships, and the credibility of your faith with your clients or employer (see Titus 2:9-10).

    You know that, of course. But what are you going to do about it? Allow me to suggest two actions to help us avoid becoming the slack worker Solomon calls out in today’s proverb.

    #1: Ask the Lord to reveal a specific aspect of your work that you’re growing “slack” in. And when the Holy Spirit convicts you, immediately jot down an action you’ll take to course correct. Because as my friend Randy Alcorn says, “Nothing is more fleeting than the moment of conviction.”

    #2: Commit to a dollar figure and a deadline for investing in your professional growth. Avoiding “slack” work should not be our standard. Christ-followers should be marked by a peaceful but relentless pursuit of higher levels of excellence in our work for the glory of God and the good of others.

    But that takes an investment of time and typically money. So if you don’t already have a budget for investing in your professional growth (via courses, conferences, books, etc.), make it your goal to set one this week along with a deadline for spending it. And note that if you work for someone else, they often have professional development budgets or will create one upon your request.

    Whatever works for you works. But we must invest in our vocational skills. Because as author Matt Perman says, “Shoddy work
is a failure of love.” Love those you work with by taking steps to proactively fight against the temptation to do slack, destructive work today!

  • “Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.” Here’s how that leads to rest.

    “Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.” Here’s how that leads to rest.

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs
    Devotional: 2 of 7

    Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans
.In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps
.The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:3, 9, 33)

    In his terrific memoir, On Writing, novelist Stephen King says, “I used to tell interviewers that I wrote every day except for Christmas, the Fourth of July, and my birthday. That was a lie. I told them that because
I didn’t want to sound like a workaholic dweeb
The truth is that when I’m writing, I write every day
not working is the real work."

    I deeply resonate with that last line for two reasons. First, because I (like you) love the work God has given me to do. Second, because rest is an act of faith—it’s a way of trusting that the world will keep spinning even if I’m not doing the spinning!

    Yes, Scripture frequently commands us to hustle and work hard (see Colossians 3:23). But it also tells us to trust that it is God—not us—who produces results in our work (see Deuteronomy 8:18). And that trust ought to lead to a deep rest for our souls (see Matthew 11:29).

    What does it look like to hold this tension between “trust, hustle, and rest” well? Solomon answers that question systematically in Proverbs 16.

    First, Solomon calls us to trust by instructing us to “Commit to the Lord whatever you do.” Before we roll up our sleeves, we are to commit our work to God and recognize that whatever fruit our work produces is “from him” (Romans 11:36).

    Second, Solomon calls us to hustle by saying, "In their hearts humans plan their course.” While God has clearly called us to express our trust in him, he has also given us brains to “plan,” strategize, and execute our plans at work.

    Finally, Solomon calls us to rest. “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” In other words, if we have trusted in God for the results of our work and done our part to work “with all [our] heart” (Colossians 3:23), we can rest knowing that “the lot is cast” and the results are in God’s hands.

    I don’t know about you, but I need constant reminders to trust, hustle, and rest. If you need the same, let me encourage you to write down one of the following three reminders wherever you’ll see them as you work:

    Trust (Deuteronomy 8:18), Hustle (Colossians 3:23), and Rest (Matthew 11:29)“Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.” — Saint Augustine“My job is faithfulness. God’s job is fruitfulness.” — John Piper

    Want to see one of these on the lockscreen of your phone? Download a graphic here.

    With today’s passage in mind, I pray that you will work diligently with your hands and gently with your soul, trusting that the outcomes are in the Lord’s hands!

  • New Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs

    New Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from Proverbs
    Devotional: 1 of 7

    When there are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable, but one who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)

    Hamilton might be the fastest-moving musical of all-time. Sung at an average of 144 words per minute, the show is more than twice the speed as average-paced productions like Phantom of the Opera, largely because of how much the show’s protagonist, Alexander Hamilton, has to say.

    When Hamilton first meets Aaron Burr on stage, Burr is blown away by how much Hamilton can talk. So he offers Hamilton some free advice: “Talk less
Fools who run their mouths off wind up dead”—a not so subtle foreshadowing of the day Hamilton’s “many words” will lead Burr to kill him in history’s most infamous duel.

    That’s a good, albeit dramatic, case study of what God is warning us about in Proverbs 10:19. I love how the New Living Translation renders today’s passage: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

    We’d be wise to apply that advice to our work where “many words” can be particularly harmful to others and ourselves. How might we apply this wisdom to our work today? Here are three practices.

    #1: Be content not having content on every topic. We’re living at a time where many of us feel pressured to say something about everything—largely because we see our colleagues weighing in on every topic on social media (including topics they know nothing about). Refuse to be that fool. Can’t help yourself? Consider quitting these services.

    #2: Don’t share more information than you have to. I once had a professor define advertising as “telling the truth, and nothing but the truth, but not the whole truth.” That always made me queasy. But I do believe this wisdom holds in certain situations where telling the “whole truth” could defame one of God’s image bearers. Take the example of telling your team that you had to let somebody go. Giving every detail and reason for that decision is unnecessary and unwise. “Restrain your lips” accordingly.

    #3: Use software to check yourself before you wreck yourself (and others) in writing. Tools like Grammarly can be super helpful in pointing out phrases in emails and other written messages that may come across as offensive to others and where fewer words might be prudent.

    Proverbs 17:27 says that “a truly wise person uses few words.” Be wise with your words for the glory of God and the good of others today!

  • An acronym for how to love your job without making it an idol

    An acronym for how to love your job without making it an idol

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Working Without Idolatry
    Devotional: 4 of 4

    Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)

    We’ve seen a few helpful definitions of idolatry throughout this series. Let me offer my own: An idol is anything you can’t live without. It’s anything other than God that functions as your deepest source of joy.

    And so, if we want to keep our work from becoming an idol, we would be wise to voluntarily practice self-denial—resting from the good gift of work as a means of proving to ourselves that God is the only thing we ultimately need.

    Pastor Joe Rigney whose book Strangely Bright inspired me to write this devotional series says this about self-denial: “Biblical self-denial is the voluntary giving up of good things for the sake of better things
[it] keeps our legitimate love of earthly things [like work] in check. We enjoy them when we have them. But we don't covet and crave them
.We can voluntarily give them up for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    That brings us to our fourth and final principle for enjoying our work without turning it into an idol. Principle #4: Limit your labor regularly.

    How? Here are two ideas for practicing this principle.

    First, take a full day off once a week. AKA Sabbath. While this ancient rhythm is not commanded under the New Covenant, it still stands as wisdom. Sabbath is one way to once a week declare that you have joy apart from the gift of work—a way of loving and worshiping God apart from your vocation.

    Second, choose the Word before work, rather than work before the Word. According to a 2016 study from Deloitte more than half of Americans check their phones within five minutes of waking up. Be counter-cultural here. Before you check email or the day’s news, commit to time in God’s Word. Limiting your labor in this way is a powerful way of saying, “As good as your gift of work is, Lord, I choose You before all things.”

    My goal with this series has been to provide us with a biblical and practical framework for enjoying our work without turning it into an idol. Here’s a summary of the four principles we explored (which just so happen to spell out IDOL for those who love memorable acronyms):

    Insist that Jesus is better than your work or any other created thingDelight in your work freely and fully as a means of better appreciating the “betterness” of JesusOffer your talents generously in service of others Limit your labor regularly via self-denying rhythms of rest

    Your work is a good thing, believer. But only God is the ultimate good. Enjoy his good gifts today, and as you do, I pray you will delight in the Gift-Giver all the more!

  • What it means to

    What it means to "set your mind on things above”

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Working Without Idolatry
    Devotional: 3 of 4

    Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2)

    [Devotional] Last week, I argued that paradoxically one way to ensure your work doesn’t become an idol is to enjoy your work most fully as a means of better appreciating the “betterness” of Christ.

    But how does that advice match up with today’s passage? Isn’t Paul telling us to ignore “earthly things” like work and focus our mind on exclusively heavenly things?

    Not exactly. A few verses later Paul explains what he meant by “earthly things” saying this: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5-6).

    The word Paul used for “earthly things” in verse 2 is the exact same word we translate “earthly” in verse 5. What’s the point? Paul is condemning our engagement with “earthly things” in a sinful way. He is not condemning “earthly things” in and of themselves. To do that would contradict his command a few verses later to “work
with all your heart” in your earthly job (see Colossians 3:23-24).

    So, this passage isn’t telling us to love our work less; but it does offer us an essential principle for ensuring our work doesn’t become an idol. It’s found in the middle of Colossians 3:5 where Paul says that “greed
is idolatry.”

    If greed and idolatry are one and the same then combating greed must be a part of our playbook for enjoying our work in a non-idolatrous way. That brings me to our third principle for this series: Principle #3: Offer your talents generously in service of others.

    What might this look like practically? Here are three ideas.

    #1: Offer to mentor before you’re asked. I guarantee you that there is someone ten years behind you professionally who would love to be mentored by you but doesn't have the courage to ask. Bless them by making the first move.

    #2: Teach a competitor who needs your help. When my friend was vying for a starting spot on a football team, he took time to help a competitor learn his routes. Why? Because that’s what Jesus would do. And by offering up his talents to serve another, he was keeping idolatry of his vocation in check.

    #3: Volunteer to use your professional skills to serve those who can’t afford them. Your local church, an orphanage, your favorite non-profit—whatever God puts on your heart.

    Those are just three ideas for offering your talents generously to others. Find your own way to do this today as a means of combating greed and ensuring you aren’t turning the good gift of work into an idol.

  • Enjoy work more—not less—to fight idolatry

    Enjoy work more—not less—to fight idolatry

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Working Without Idolatry
    Devotional: 2 of 4

    “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.” (Psalm 4:7)

    We’re in a series exploring four principles for enjoying our work without turning our jobs into idols. Last week we unpacked Principle #1: Insist that Jesus is better. Today we turn to Principle #2: Delight in your work freely and fully.

    Now, I know that may seem oxymoronic. After all, if Jesus is better than my job, shouldn’t I try to love my work less, not more? I’d argue that’s impossible to do and foolish to try for two reasons.

    First, God created you to enjoy your work. Work was God’s first gift to humankind in the Garden of Eden (see Genesis 1:26-28) and one of the many gifts he has in store for us on the New Earth (see Isaiah 65:17-23). So, to try to love your work less is to fight against God’s design.

    Second, the more you enjoy God’s gifts, the more you can appreciate the “betterness” of God. You see this idea all throughout the Psalms where joy in the Creator is frequently described in comparison to the joy the Psalmist found in some created thing. For example, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10). “Your love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). "You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” (Psalm 4:7).

    “How shall we confess this meaningfully, if the grain and wine have never put any joy in our hearts whatsoever?” says pastor Joe Rigney. “To say that we desire nothing besides [God] is an empty compliment if it is literally true. It would be as if to say, ‘I desire nothing besides you because I've never desired anything at all.’ But surely what the Psalmist means is, ‘I have desired many things in my life, many things of earth. But compared to you they are nothing.’”

    Now, this is not a license to self-indulgence and materialism—a nuance I will draw out more fully next week. But the general principle is clear: If you want to enjoy your work without making it an idol, the solution isn’t loving your work less, but more—freely and fully delighting in your God-given vocation in a God-honoring way so that you may more deeply and honestly appreciate the truth that Jesus is better.

    Jen Wilkin put it this way: “Find freedom in knowing that your human creativity is an echo intended to inspire worship of your Creator. And then, [work] freely to your heart’s delight.”

    Amen! With that in mind, ask the Lord for the gift of delighting in your work as a means of delighting more in him today.

  • New Series: Working Without Idolatry

    New Series: Working Without Idolatry

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Working Without Idolatry
    Devotional: 1 of 4

    Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)

    There’s a tension we see throughout Scripture.

    On the one hand, we are invited to delight in creation and our work with creation. “Every good gift” is from God (James 1:17) given to us “for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17). And that includes our work! Ecclesiastes 2:24 says “a person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil” because those good things are “from the hand of God.”

    These verses are good examples of what I call the “delight in creation” passages of Scripture. But on the other side of this perceived biblical tension, we find the “delight in Creator” passages that command us to love God above all things. This was summarized most succinctly in Jesus’s articulation of the Greatest Commandment above.

    So, we are called to delight in the gifts the Creator has given while delighting in our Creator above all things. Because separating these things is the essence of idolatry. Pastor Joe Rigney (whose excellent book Strangely Bright has aided me greatly in the writing of this series) says that idolatry “is the separation of the gifts from the giver and then a preference for the gifts over the giver.”

    In this series, I’ll put forth a framework to help you and I enjoy God’s gifts (especially our work) in a way that ensures we enjoy the Giver most—a path to delighting in our jobs without them becoming God-dishonoring, soul-sucking idols.

    Here’s the first of four principles to guide us towards that goal. Principle #1: Insist that Jesus is better.

    The next time you celebrate a massive accomplishment with your team, read an email about how your product changed someone’s life, or hold a baby in your arms after hours of hard labor, resolutely insist that Jesus is better than his gifts—even if you have a hard time seeing how.

    What does this look like practically? Here’s one idea: Reserve one adjective for God alone.

    I know a man who refuses to call anything but God “awesome.” So when he delights in created things—an incredible pizza, seeing his book hit the bestseller list, watching his daughter get married—he might describe those experiences as “good,” “great,” or even “exceptional.” But never “awesome.” Why? “Because God alone is awesome,” he says.

    Let me encourage you to choose an adjective that you will reserve for God alone as a means of practically insisting that Jesus is better. And may that small decision put you on a path to enjoying your work in a non-idolatrous way today.

  • Confessing my less than godly motives for this action

    Confessing my less than godly motives for this action

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from David

    Devotional: 7 of 7

    I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. (1 Chronicles 29:17)

    After giving his considerable “personal treasures of gold and silver,” for the building of the temple, David took the time to examine his heart to see if he had given that treasure with God-honoring intent (see 1 Chronicles 29:3-17). Why? I think because David understood how easy it is to do godly things with a mix of godly and ungodly motives.

    I experienced this first hand just a few months ago. I had just made a decision within my business that triggered a significant financial sacrifice. But I was convicted through prayer that it was the right thing to do.

    Implementing this decision required that I notify some fellow believers. And as I did, these friends consistently commented on how “proud” they were of me for taking this action.

    It didn’t take long for me to realize that I was quietly anticipating this praise. While my motives for making this financial sacrifice were mostly pure, there was a part of me that was secretly hoping my friends would commend my decision.

    My confession here and David’s words in today’s passage point to an important truth: It is so easy to take God-honoring actions at work with less than God-honoring motives—to do the right things for the wrong reasons.

    What are we to do with that truth? Let me suggest three responses.

    First, confess your sinful motives to God and others. Maybe you’re in a season of working “with all your heart” as Colossians 3:23 commands, but if you’re honest, you’re not really doing so “for the Lord.” You are grinding away “for the love of money” (see 1 Timothy 6:10). If that’s you, confess that less than God-honoring motive to God and your Christian community.

    Second, be amazed at the grace God has shown you which is big enough to cover not just the “bad things” you do, but even the “good things” you do for the wrong reasons.

    Finally, don’t wait for a pure motive before you obey God’s commands. There had to have been some part of David that was motivated by the praise of others to give his treasure. But that didn’t keep him from obeying God’s commands.

    So it should be with us. God is calling you to take some action at work this week. Are your motives pure? No. But if you’re confessing those less than righteous motives and the balance of your heart is to honor God, take action. If you’re waiting for perfectly pure “honest intent,” you’re going to be waiting forever.

  • IF success comes from God, THEN inputs > outcomes

    IF success comes from God, THEN inputs > outcomes

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from David

    Devotional: 6 of 7

    David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting
.Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all
Everything comes from you.” (1 Chronicles 29:10, 12, 14)

    The context of today’s passage adds weight to David’s words. Here’s the scene: David is addressing Israel in what was likely his final public address as king. The next day, Solomon will take David’s place and soon become the wealthiest man on earth.

    What would David say at the close of his forty-year reign? He chose to focus his son and his people’s attention on the truth that “wealth and honor” and “everything” good comes from God.

    This is a truth we see reiterated throughout Scripture. James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17). The Apostle Paul said that even “our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

    Every good thing you have—from your wealth, to your success at work, to the breath in your lungs—is from God. Let me suggest three responses to that truth.

    First, praise God for whatever wealth and results he has given you knowing that he will only give you the amount that is perfectly suited for your good and his glory (see Romans 8:28-29).

    Second, steward God’s gifts according to his agenda, rather than your own. Because if he’s the giver of the gift, he gets to dictate how you use it.

    Finally, focus on inputs rather than outcomes. This last response is super tough for me and probably you. So allow me to go a bit deeper here.

    Let’s say you’re working really hard to achieve a specific goal by the end of this week. If, come Friday, you can honestly say you pursued that goal as best as you know how, you can rest before you even know whether or not you hit your target. Not because the world tells you “you are enough.” But because the results were never in your hands in the first place.

    Because “wealth and honor” and success come from God alone you can rest anytime you have faithfully put in the work and the “inputs”—not just when you’ve achieved your desired outcome.

    Christian Olympian Eric Liddell once said, “In the dust of defeat as well as in the laurel of victory, there is glory to be found if one has done his best.” Amen. Based on that truth, work hard from a position of rest today!

  • My “5 Minutes of Nothing” rule to dissent from the “Kingdom of Noise”

    My “5 Minutes of Nothing” rule to dissent from the “Kingdom of Noise”

    · The Word Before Work

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    --

    Series: Wisdom for Work from David

    Devotional: 5 of 7

    In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. (Psalm 10:4)

    In 1517, Martin Luther had an “aha” moment that would change the world. He realized that “the merciful God justifies us by faith,” and not by works.

    Where was Luther when he had this epiphany? In a grand library? Walking in a beautiful garden perhaps? No. As Luther biographer Eric Metaxas explains, “God had given [Luther] this insight while he was sitting on the toilet.”

    I’m not surprised, because even in Luther’s day, the outhouse was a rare place of silence and solitude, free from what C.S. Lewis called “the Kingdom of Noise” that surrounds you and me to this day.

    Everywhere we turn we are bombarded by external noise—nonstop emails, texts, information, and entertainment—which leads to a more dangerous internal noise that blocks our ability to think, be creative, and most importantly, listen to the voice of God.

    That is what David is primarily concerned with in today’s passage when he says that “the wicked man” has “no room” in “his thoughts
for God.”

    If that doesn’t describe most people today, I don’t know what does. “We are always engaged with our thumbs, but rarely engaged with our thoughts,” says pastor Kevin DeYoung. Which means that we are drowning out the One Input we need most. ​​We are inflicting ourselves with what Tim Keller called “the torture of divine absence.”

    The solution to this epidemic is simple, but not easy: We must embrace practices that help us dissent from the kingdom of noise.

    Let me offer one simple practice you can start implementing today. I call it my 5 Minutes of Nothing rule. Here’s what it means. If I have less than 5 minutes unexpectedly at my disposal, I do absolutely nothing at all. I refuse to fill that crevice of my day with noise.

    Here’s what this could look like for you today. When you show up to a Zoom meeting early and you’re waiting for the host to start the meeting, don’t check your email. When you head to the bathroom like Luther, refuse to check your phone. When you drive to the bus stop to pick-up your kids, don’t press play on your favorite podcast (even if it’s my own).

    What do I recommend you do instead? Be still. Pray. And make room in your thoughts for God to speak.

    Jordan

    P.S. My 5 Minutes of Nothing rule is just one idea for how to dissent from the kingdom of noise. Want more ideas? I share eight more in Chapter 3 of Redeeming Your Time!

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