Examine Your Heart
June 2024
Examine my heart and see if there is any wrong way in me.
Jordan Raynor has done some strong work on the issue of turning our work into an idol or our identity. I think it’s worth your time to read it and ask the Lord to examine your heart in the process.
“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.
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 (and identity) 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. (You can use your phone here, but you might want to try a real Bible) 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.”
There is a biblical and practical framework for enjoying our work without turning it into an idol. Here’s four principles . . . (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 thing
- Delight in your work freely and fully as a means of better appreciating the “betterness” of Jesus
- Offer 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!”