Welcome back to the podcast! How do we glorify God through our everyday labor? Whether you’re in ministry, business, trades, or stay-at-home leadership, Scripture teaches that our work is one of the primary places we honor God. In this episode, we explore three essential marks of working as unto the Lord: gratitude, perspective, and integrity.
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The PursueGOD Men's podcast helps guys apply God's Word to their lives to become full circle followers of Jesus. Join us for a new men's episode every other Thursday.
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Work with a Grateful Heart
Working “unto the Lord” begins with gratitude, not grumbling. Scripture commands us to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances—including our 9-to-5.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT) calls us to persistent joy, continual prayer, and an attitude of gratitude. Instead of seeing work only as stress or obligation, faith teaches us to view it as a gift: the ability to earn, provide, and contribute.
Paul echoes this in Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT), urging us to bring every work anxiety to God with thanksgiving. Gratitude reshapes stress into trust.
Solomon affirms the goodness of labor:
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NLT) and 5:18 (NLT) remind us that finding satisfaction in our work is a gift from God.
Healthy bodies, steady income, meaningful productivity—these are blessings worth thanking God for every single day.
Work Can Become an Idol
Work is good, but work can also take God’s place when our ambition exceeds our devotion.
Jesus warns us to keep our loves properly ordered: Matthew 6:33 (NLT) calls us to seek God’s kingdom first, not as an afterthought once the job is done.
Good seasons can drift into unhealthy patterns. Long hours can slowly redefine identity, priorities, and relationships. Many men don’t notice the shift until someone close to them finally says something. Keeping work in its place begins with honest reflection:
Do I chase work more than I chase God?
Does my family get what’s left of me—or the best of me?
Work with Integrity
Working unto the Lord requires integrity, not shortcuts or hidden compromises. God takes honesty seriously:
Proverbs 11:1 (NLT) — “The Lord detests dishonest scales…”
Proverbs 20:23 (NLT) — “The Lord detests differing weights…”
God doesn’t just dislike dishonest business practices—He detests them.
Integrity means dealing fairly with customers, employers, team members, and vendors. It means no hidden fees, no loopholes, no cutting corners because “everyone else does it.”
Jesus rebuked religious leaders for manipulating oaths in Matthew 23:16-17 (NLT), exposing the heart behind deceptive commitments. Today, integrity touches things like expense reports, remote-work honesty, hours logged, pricing transparency, and truthful representation of services.
If our work is truly unto the Lord, then our ethics must reflect His character.
Close
Working unto the Lord is a daily posture: gratitude, perspective, and integrity. When we get these right, our work becomes more than a paycheck—it becomes worship.
