What does Jesus think our profession is? What does Jesus think our purpose at work is? Jesus has a lot to say about our purpose at work. Do we know it? Do we live it?

• How about we spend our day on loving our colleagues?
• How much time would that take?
• Should we focus on serving others and place ourselves as last?
• How much mercy should we show others who aren’t doing their job?
• Are we consumed with compassion and gentleness for our fellow employees?

It is an essential question. We are asked it all the time. What do you do [for a living]? We have our elevator speech. We have rehearsed and out it comes. I do X. My title is ABC. I work for XYZ company.

• Many of us have a very tactical understanding of our profession. Is it focused on the Jesus way?
• I am a doctor, CPA, lawyer, carpenter, etc. Really? That is it?
• Jesus challenges us to see things from His perspective.
• Jesus challenges us to understand why we are working.
• We are working to serve others and fulfill the glory of God.

As we express our faith at work, we will dive deep into what the perspective is of how Jesus sees things. It is not what we think. The Way of Jesus is different. The Way of Jesus fulfills the way God created things and brings about his glory. Our profession should be a thing of beauty, stunning everyone who sees it. Grace, love, and kindness should flow off us onto everyone we encounter. They should think, I want what they have. That is a real profession. That is motivating. That is inspiring.

Here is an example of a deeper dive in how faith at work gets manifested: Jesus is clear that our mission of faith at work is to love God with our whole being and to love our co-workers like we love ourselves. One of the characteristics of love is patience. Love is always patient. Love does not get frustrated with others.

• Is there a co-worker we will work with today that we demonstrate patience?
• Is there an opportunity to show more patience and understanding with our boss?
• How can we go out of our way to be more patient?

An insistence on one’s own schedule is selfish, and it is opposed to godly love. Patient endurance and long-suffering are hallmarks of a loving character with our co-workers. Love melts away the impatience and frustration that so often hamper one’s dealings with others. When the object of one’s love fails or disappoints in some way, what is the proper response? According to 1 Corinthians 13:4, the loving response is patience. That is “faith at work”.