What does it mean to glorify God at work?

What does it mean to glorify God at work?

Over the past few days, I’ve spent countless hours in and out of conference halls listening to a variety of research presentations on pediatric brain tumors by the smartest doctors and scientists in the world. I’m very blessed and love my job very much. To be able to contribute to the latest clinical trials attempting to find a cure for pediatric high risk brain tumors is really exciting and rewarding.

But living out of my carry-on bag, and coming back to my empty hotel room at the end of each busy day, makes me homesick. I’ve enjoyed my time in Denver. It’s a very unique city from a cultural perspective.  The best part of my trip, is being able to see the beautiful vastness of the Rocky Mountains from my hotel room from a distance. The Lord is an amazing creator!

During this trip, I really missed my wife, and this has shown how much I love and really appreciate her. Luckily, we have been able to text each other everyday. This work trip has reminded me that as a man, I can get caught up in my career. I don’t know about you, but as a man, I am driven to be successful in my career. Sometimes my successes take my mind off of giving God praise. 

On my work laptop, I have the verse 1 Corinthians 10:31 displayed as my background to remind me to glorify God everyday. This verse speaks to me personally. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  So what does it mean to glorify God at work? How can we as men glorify God in our careers?

Dependence on God

In John 15:5-6, Jesus says

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

Jesus uses this metaphor to demonstrate how we should be dependent on Him every day. We should go to work with complete dependence on Him. Like a branch broken off of the vine, without being utterly dependent on God, we cannot breathe and we would die spiritually.

Every morning, we should get up and be fully committed to bring glory to God. If you are struggling in this area, pray to God to strengthen your will and guide your mind to focus on Him and be reliant on His will.  

Giving thanks to God

I’m inconsistent in this area of giving thanks to God in my career. I’m very blessed to be planted in the area of starting up clinical trials that will impact the survival rates in high risk pediatric brain tumors. But I don’t always stop and take a moment to give praise and thanks to God in my work.

In Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, he reminded the holy people in Ephesus that they should “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:20).

There are moments were we feel disappointed, discouraged, or any other negative emotions which affects how we act towards God, and it can have physical and emotional effects on our health.

The old adage is “attitude begins with gratitude.”  

Being thankful is all about attitude. Our negative attitude prevents us from reaching what God design us for. So, be thankful regardless of the situation you are currently in. Thankfulness is not reserved for just Sunday, or whenever something good is happening in our life. We should thank God everyday, Sunday through Saturday. If you find yourself giving into the toxic negative emotions, pray to God to change your mindset and to redirect your thoughts to be more grateful.

Read: Holy Spirit and Men: Turning The World Upside Down

As I wrapped up my visit in Denver, I cannot help but feel refreshed and reoriented. My time in the ‘Mile High City’ has given me a new perspective on God’s blessings in my life. I have faced many ups and downs in my life and in my career, but regardless of the lows, I am blessed. I’m nothing short of thankful for God in what I do for a living, and without God as my pilot, I would wither away, paralyzed by despair. I hope this post helps other men glorify God in their careers by being dependent and thankful in what they do for a living. God bless!

Michael Price

Christian, Husband, Political junkie, Braves fan, Marvel Nerd, craft beer aficionado, and a sinner saved by grace. He has a passion for helping Christian men grow in their faith. He is the founder and editor of Joshua’s Outpost.

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