Workin’ 9-5 for the Lord
Writing ‘Christian fiction’ is more than just a job.
For me, it is a unique brand of ministry.
Although I often joke that I have the best job in the world because I get paid to sit at home in my sweatpants, making up stories, the reality is so much more than that. I have the best job in the world because I get to use my God-given gifts to encourage people, inspire them, and hopefully lead them to (or strengthen them in) a relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter the character, no matter the setting, no matter the plot, my goal is always to point others toward the Savior. What could be better than that? I’m doing what I love AND working for God at the same time. (The sweatpants are just an added bonus). I’ve felt called to write from a very early age, and being a Christian fiction author feels like the most natural fit in the world.
Which is also why it’s the area in my life in which I have to be the most diligent.
Much like Christian singers, pastors, and leaders, Christian authors are still just people, flawed and sinful, besieged by the same doubts and temptations that seek to ensure everyone attempting to walk the straight and narrow path. But when your career overlaps with your kingdom work, a unique kind of sin can often sneak in.
Sometimes, I can get so focused on the work I’m doing for God that God Himself almost gets lost in the process. When I’ve spent hours writing words to inspire others to follow Him, I can sometimes get lulled into thinking I’ve done enough for Him that day.
For example, one day, after a particularly rough stretch of editing, my mind and body were spent. I had a headache AND a backache (I really need work on my posture when typing), as well as a nagging case of “imposter syndrome,” which rears its head often during the course of work on a new novel. I wanted nothing more than to grab a bag of popcorn and zone out on the couch with Netflix for a few hours.
And that’s the moment my children decided to start fighting.
I knew as a mother it was my job to get up and help my children work through their petty squabble. More than that, it was my duty as a follower of Jesus to help them dissect the heart issues that were causing it, redirecting them to biblical truth and God’s grace as the ultimate means of resolution.
But I was tired. I’d already put in 8 hours of ministry (i.e. God’s) work for the day. Surely that was enough.
It wasn’t.
Kingdom work never stops. Because no matter how big and grand your efforts for the Lord may be, the truth remains that they are never what God wants the most.
God wants obedience.
God wants our hearts.
A great illustration of this is found in 1 Kings 6. For 38 verses, we learn about the lavishness with which Solomon is constructing this building for the Lord. The gold, the stones, the timbers–all of it ornate and beautiful. All I could think about while reading this chapter was an oft-repeated line in the original Jurassic Park movie in which Jon Hammond, the architect behind it all, continues to re-iterate that they “spared no expense” in the grounds’ grandiosity. Solomon, indeed, spared no expense when it came to building a dwelling place for the Lord.
And yet, right smack in the middle of these verses, we learn that “the word of the Lord came to Solomon” (verse 11). Having just read about all the magnificent work Solomon was doing, we expect to hear oodles of approval coming from God’s mouth.
Instead, we hear this:
“As for this temple you are building–if you walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep all my commands by walking in them, I will fulfill my promise to you, which I made to your father David. I will dwell among the Israelites and not abandon my people Israel” (verses 12-13).
This is no pat on the back or even “well done, faithful servant.” This is God reminding Solomon that what He really wants is obedience.
Keep in mind, Solomon knew this was his calling. God had told David all the way back in 2 Samuel 7 that his son would be the one to build a temple for Him. Solomon was doing what he was supposed to be doing, and he was doing it in style.
Yet, still, God reiterated, even in this, that His number one priority wasn’t the work to which He’d called Solomon. It was obedience springing from love. The work was important, of course; God never wastes anyone’s time. But the worker’s heart was even more so.
The same is true for us, whether we are in “professional” ministry or not. God doesn’t keep a check-list each day, wherein He crosses off “kingdom work” every time I write some words on a page. My work for Him doesn’t stop the moment I take my author hat off because that’s not what “kingdom work” really is. Yes, the writing is important. But what’s most important is maintaining a heart that follows in obedience every hour of every day, whether I’m at home or at work, being an author or being a mom, serving my church or serving my family. Sometimes that obedience is writing 3,000 words a day; sometimes it’s writing zero and engaging with my kids.
But the sad truth is I often miss out on God’s calling for my day because I assume following His calling for my life is enough.
The same is true even if you don’t work in any professional ministry capacity. Our goal on this earth is to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), sharing the good news of Jesus to all, no matter if you’re a plumber, a painter, or a postal worker. But, as we are doing so, we want to make sure we are remaining disciples by maintaining a life lived in obedience to Christ. Serving in a church soup kitchen matters little if our souls are destitute. Helping decorate the foyer for Christmas means nothing if our hearts are barren. Don’t get me wrong–doing those things is great. But only if you continue your walk in obedience long after that individual act of service is complete.
A heart overflowing with love and walking in obedience to God are the most important gifts we can ever offer the Lord. Bigger than our work and our calling, no matter how grandiose the result. When we allow His Holy Spirit to take over, His glory is magnified way over anything we could ever do on our own.
Don’t let YOUR work get in the way of HIS work in you.
