Photo by HamZa NOUASRIA on Unsplash
Many of us struggle to find meaning in our daily work, often measuring success by comparison to others. Satisfaction proves elusive when work becomes merely a pursuit of status or wealth. True purpose emerges when we recognize our work as an extension of God’s creative and redemptive purposes.
“Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:4 ESV)
This sobering observation reveals how easily our work can be motivated by unhealthy comparison and competition. When envy drives our labor, we find ourselves constantly dissatisfied, chasing achievements that never truly fulfill us. Such motivation is “vanity”—empty and meaningless—because it disconnects our work from its deeper purpose and leaves us perpetually striving yet unfulfilled.
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!” (Psalm 90:17 ESV)
This prayer invites God’s blessing and affirmation upon our work, recognizing divine partnership in our labors. By seeking God’s favor and asking Him to “establish” our work, we acknowledge Him as the ultimate source of meaning and impact. God-established work transcends temporary achievements and connects us to eternal purposes that outlast our immediate efforts.
Spiritual Move: Discernment—The practice of discernment helps us distinguish between competing motivations in our work life. Through prayerful attention to our interior responses, we learn to recognize when envy or comparison is driving us versus when we’re aligned with God’s purposes. Regular discernment creates space to realign our work with divine intentions.
Journaling Prompts:
1. When have you felt most tempted to measure your work success by comparing yourself to others? What happened to your satisfaction?
2. What would it look like for God to “establish the work of your hands” in your current role or project?
Thought and Discussion Questions:
1. How do we distinguish between healthy ambition and envy-driven striving in our work?
2. What practices help you maintain perspective when workplace competition intensifies?
3. Share a time when you experienced God’s favor in establishing your work in meaningful ways.
4. How might we help each other find divine purpose in seemingly ordinary tasks?
I love this! One of my favorite verses is Colossians 3:17 which says “whatever you do in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord.” I love this devotion because this is my life mantra, whatever I’m doing, wherever I am, whatever situations arise, I will strive to put God first in those situations. Calling upon His name to help me, not only responding well, but also living a live that will make God proud of my actions where those around me may be directed to the creator. Since we spend the majority of our awake time on this earth at work, this is especially vital. This is true surrender to God.