Welcome To Adulting By JP PokludaSample

Day Four

Follow Something Greater Than Your Passions

Scripture: Colossians 3:23–24

The phrase “follow your passion” has become popular in our lifetimes. It’s what you’ve been sold, in fact, for the past twenty years. The problem is, that’s really, really bad advice. Passions are not logical. If everybody really followed their passions, society would quickly collapse.

It’s also pretty much the opposite of what God’s Word teaches. We’re not supposed to follow our passions; we’re supposed to bring our passions under control (Galatians 5:24). Instead of following our hearts (Jeremiah 17:9), we’re called to follow God and become passionate about what he’s passionate about.

Does that mean you should work at a job you’re not passionate about? Maybe. It depends on the situation. If you have a job that you are passionate about, that’s great. Work hard at it. Be a great employee. But if you can’t find such a job, or you have a job you’re not passionate about—well, you’re still called to be a great employee.

How we work, and the way we honor our employers by doing our best for them, is supposed to stand out as different from the rest of the world. It’s supposed to make people notice and make them more willing to listen to us when we explain why we work that way. We’re to be “the light of the world” and “let [our] light shine before others” (Matthew 5:14–16), and that includes shining at work.

Though the pain of work is a consequence of the fall, work itself is not a punishment. In a perfect world, we would still work. How do I know this? Because before the fall, in the Garden of Eden when it was a perfect world, humankind was still commanded to work. In other words, we’re created to work. Paradise is working the way God intended and joyfully serving him through that work. When we joyfully serve him through our work today we are showing the world a preview of paradise by being a reflection of God and his coming kingdom. “Whatever you do”—which covers everything you do and every possible job—work hard at it. Serve God through it. And you might find that you start to actually like it.

How do your passions and your work intersect? Why do you work? Do you work as though you are “working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23)? How would your attitude at work change if you were?