Devotional: Good Work – Whatever You Do, Do It All for God’s Glory
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
—1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
One of the biggest mistakes we make as Christians is putting our lives into two boxes. We’ve got the “God box”—church, prayer, Bible reading, serving. And then we’ve got the “real life box”—our jobs, our chores, our kids, our bills. But that divide doesn’t exist. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Whatever you do. That covers it all.
That means your work matters to God. If you’re in an office, crunching numbers or answering emails, God sees it. If you’re at home, folding laundry or cooking dinner, God sees it. If you’re teaching a classroom full of kids or managing a team at work, God sees it. Every part of your life has the potential to glorify Him. There is no sacred and secular for followers of Jesus. There’s only life, and all of it belongs to Him.
And here’s why this changes everything: the gospel doesn’t just save us from sin and death. The gospel changes who we are, and it changes whose we are. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 6 that we are not our own; we were bought with a price. That means our work isn’t about earning recognition, climbing the ladder, or just making it to retirement. It’s about serving the One who owns us. It’s about reflecting Him in the way we work—with excellence, with humility, with integrity.
Think about it like putting on a new pair of glasses. Once you put them on, you see the world differently. That’s what the gospel does. It gives you a new set of lenses for your work. Suddenly it’s not just a paycheck, not just the daily grind. It’s an opportunity to glorify God right where you are. Whether you’re in a classroom, a job site, or your own kitchen, your work has eternal weight when it’s done for Him.
So the next time you step into your workplace, your home, or your daily routine, remember this: your work isn’t wasted. It’s worship.
Questions for Reflection
Where have you been tempted to separate your “spiritual life” from your “work life”?
What would it look like to treat your everyday tasks as worship?
How could you invite God into the details of your work this week?
Prayer
Father, thank You for reminding me that everything in my life belongs to You. Help me see my work—whether it’s at my job, in my home, or in my community—as an offering of worship. Teach me to work with excellence, with humility, and with integrity, so that every part of my life points back to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Practical Application
Work with excellence. If you’re a student, study hard and turn in your assignments on time. If you’re at home, cook the meal or fold the laundry with care. If you’re at work, give your best effort on that project—even the small details—because it reflects the God you serve.
Check your attitude. Before you walk into the office, the classroom, or the kitchen, pause and pray: “Lord, help me carry the attitude of Christ with me today.” Choose humility when a coworker frustrates you, patience when your kids are demanding, and gratitude even when the task feels boring.
Don’t chase recognition. Instead of getting discouraged if your boss, spouse, or kids don’t notice your hard work, remind yourself that God sees it. Say quietly in your heart, “I’m doing this for You, Lord.” That simple shift can turn even unnoticed tasks into worship.
Bring God into ordinary moments. Pray while you wash dishes. Listen to worship music on your commute. Offer a kind word to a coworker. Small habits like these remind you that God is present in every part of your day.
Serve someone else. Look for one way today to go beyond what’s required—help a teammate at work, encourage a friend, or pick up an extra chore at home. When you do, you reflect Christ’s humility and love.
Dig Deeper
Use this five-day prayer guide to reframe your work through the lens of Scripture and prayer.
When Paul says whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God, he’s not giving us a slogan—he’s giving us a way of life. The gospel takes down the wall between “God stuff” and “real life” and shows us that every moment matters. Your classroom, your office, your kitchen, your neighborhood—all of it is holy ground when you choose to glorify God there.
So tomorrow when you clock in, load the dishwasher, sit in traffic, or make that sales call, remember: you’re not just getting through the day. You’re serving the One who bought you with a price. Your life, your work, your everyday tasks are not wasted. They are worship.
