Are You Ready To Loosen Your Grip?

It seems to me that few of us really stop to think much about the really big questions of Life. Like, "What is the real purpose of my work? Just to earn a paycheck?" Peter Bourke has a few words about important answers to these questons.

Ernie

To connect with men who are working to share their faith effectively, check out one of the local CBMC Connect3 teams for breakfast, training and encouragement.

CBMC Worcester team: Monday, 6:45 - 7:45 am at Chick-fil-A, 80 Gold Star Blvd, Worcester
CBMC Leominster team: Tuesday, 7:00 - 8:00 am at Panera Bread, Leominster Whitney Field Mall

View Connect3 team video here.

Loosen Your Grip

by Peter Bourke

Many are the plans in a man's heart,

but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

We all have a tendency to think we can control outcomes. Sales people believe they can close the "deal". Financial specialists are convinced they can solve the problem. Business leaders are intent on making the business succeed. The list goes on....

For most of the years I spent with large, high tech organizations I falsely operated under the assumption that if something must be accomplished, we (or I) must make it happen. I picture someone driving a car with fingers firmly wrapped around the steering wheel and then when needed, we squeeze our fingers all the harder as though that will improve our ability to steer the vehicle.

God shares a different perspective in this verse: you can be diligent, and yes, He'd like you to do excellent work, but allow God to be responsible for the outcomes because His purpose will ultimately prevail. Not only that, He will work all things together (either good or bad circumstances) for good - for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). God doesn't care about our success at work - if success is defined as profit, closing the deal, or gaining a new title. He's not impressed by any of this. Rather, He provides our work for His purposes - as missional Christians.

A shift in focus to God's purpose for our work and life would help to make our work more relevant and allow us to feel less pressure to perform and succeed. In essence, purpose allows "stuff" to make sense:

The purpose of eating Broccoli - improve our health
The purpose of exercise - so that I can eat what I crave
Purpose also gives our work meaning, and it's not just to pay the bills. Rather - it is the perfect forum to allow our light to shine for others – for the glory of God.

A WORK PRAYER

Lord, show me Your purpose for my work and life and allow this to be the context for my daily activities and priorities - so that I may worry less about success and focus instead on glorifying You. Amen.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

How would you complete the following statement? The reason God gave me life is _______.
How would you answer these questions: What's God's purpose for your work? To glorify God? Develop/learn? Overcome your weaknesses? To serve? Or share my faith?
How can you get clarity on these questions? Scripture? Wise counsel? Other?

This WorkLife SwitchTOOL was written by Peter Bourke, speaker and author of the book, A Better Way to Make a Living...and a Life which is targeted to the majority of today's workers who are chronically miserable in their work. He's also volunteer Board Chair of Crossroads Career Network Used by permission. All rights reserved. Content edited and distributed by WorkLife.org for non-profit educational purposes.

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