In today's competitive workplaces, it's easy for people to lose sight of what's truly important. Of course, you want to do your job well, and you want to provide for your family. At the end of the day, though, you shouldn't prioritize your career over God. Putting God first will always lead you down the right path.
Check out the following six signs you're placing your work above God to help you decide whether you're making this common mistake.
1. You start the day with work instead of worship.
What's the first thing you do in the morning? One survey shows that 81 percent of Americans check their phones within 10 minutes of waking up. More likely than not, you're using at least some of that time to check work emails. You're barely out of bed, and you're already working. You're almost certainly not putting God first in that scenario.
Remember what Matthew 6:33 says about food, drink, and clothing. "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you."
You can start your day right by setting aside some time for God. A few minutes of prayer or reading your Bible can help you set Christian priorities and prepare you for the day ahead.
2. Your identity is tied more to your job than to Christ.
You probably dedicate at least 40 hours each week to work, so it's understandable that you identify with your position. You can take that too far, though.
Does your sense of worth rise and fall with your performance at work? Do you feel great about yourself when you get praise at work but feel terrible when you don't reach your goals? Those are strong signs that your identity is tied more to your job than to following Christ.
In some cases, success might have become a false god that you worship.
Committing to your Christian identity will help you find a healthier work-life balance. Always remember that you have value because you're a child of God. Your job performance has nothing to do with your value as a human.
3. You neglect rest because you feel you can’t slow down.
Getting ahead often means putting in extra hours. Working too much, though, could show that you aren't trusting God with your time. You might have professional or financial goals to meet, but they shouldn't come between you and God.
In several places, the Bible commands taking a Sabbath rest. Jeremiah 17:24 is a popular example: Keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it.
God has reasons for telling people to acknowledge a day of rest. Constant busyness becomes a distraction that prevents you from seeing what's most important in life. When you take time away from work, you can dedicate those hours to family, community, and your faith.
4. You make big work decisions without prayer.
God doesn't want to sit on the sidelines of your life. He deserves a place at the center of every decision you make.
Have you been making major work decisions before consulting God? Maybe you're even thinking about taking a promotion in a different city, but you haven't prayed for guidance. That's a huge red flag that you're putting your professional work ethic ahead of your Christian work ethic.
Seeking God's will in the Bible or through prayer is critical. When you rely on God as your guide, you always make the right choice. That means you need to spend some time talking to God before you make big work decisions.
5. You sacrifice spiritual growth for career growth.
Do you skip opportunities for spiritual growth so you can focus on moving your career forward? Progressing in your career can be great, but that effort should never come between you and Christian priorities.
If you find yourself skipping church, pulling away from your faith community, or going days without reading the Bible, you're probably not taking your relationship with God seriously enough.
What matters most at the end of your life? How high you climbed the corporate ladder or how close you got to God? Growing in Christ is the clear winner. Once you prepare to leave this world, literally nothing else will matter. Keep that thought first and foremost in your mind.
6. You measure success by titles and paychecks, not faithfulness.
God doesn't care about your résumé or your bank account. He measures success by how well you obey Him.
That doesn't mean you don't need to care about your work. In fact, you can work hard and use the rewards to glorify God. A lot of times, though, people lose sight of that. They end up chasing recognition for themselves instead of giving God the glory He deserves. The Christian view of success always prioritizes glorifying God at work. If you're pursuing accolades for self-aggrandizing reasons, you've lost sight of your goal.
Feeling passionate about your work isn't wrong, but it can become dangerous when you start worshipping work as a false god.
God is always there to guide you. When you put Him first, everything else falls into place. If you worry that you've lost your way, find help in this prayer: "Lord, help me keep You above all things. Teach me to work hard, but worship You harder. May I never trade my devotion for success. Amen."
