5 Biblical Tips for Working From Home
Depending on where you live, your work week may include some time working from home. Even though the COVID-19 lockdowns seemed long ago, they taught us all the necessity of being able to work remotely and virtually, as well as the pros and cons of working from home. Many companies have now normalized working from home for some employees, or allowing working from home on certain days of the week for others. For those of us who do work from home full-time or part-time, we would do well to ascertain if our work-from-home habits line up with God’s Word, and if there is anything we can be doing better to honor Him with our work routines.
Although pertinent for all work habits, these Scriptural tips are especially valuable to keep in mind for those of us working from home as we seek to honor God in our work:
1. Work As Unto the Lord
Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” Although it does not always make us happy, work is a holy concept that God created for our benefit and personal fulfillment. We are made in His image, and while it’s true that we might be capable of more than our current job asks of us, there is still nobility and dignity in doing work to help take care of ourselves and our families. 1 Timothy 5:8 says, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” This is a crucial truth to keep in mind whether you are at your dream job or a transition job: your work should serve to glorify God and not men.
2. Do Everything with Excellence
Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” God doesn’t simply want us to work, He wants us to do so with excellence as a way to glorify Him. It is honorable in the Lord’s eyes when we do our work well, and He knows that when we do so, we are more likely to advance in our fields and obtain the career favor we want as God receives the glory.
3. Exhibit Gratitude
1 Timothy 6:6 says, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment.” It is much easier to go through our daily work routines when we are at a state of contentedness rather than unrest. Part of our calling as Christians that sends a message to the outside world is being content with what we have. This doesn’t mean that we can’t ever seek a raise, promotion or a job elsewhere. Instead, contentment is the act of being at peace where God has placed us presently, and being grateful for what God has provided to us in all circumstances.
4. Be Honest
Proverbs 11:1 says, “The Lord abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are His delight.” Especially when working from home without the physical accountability of our leaders and colleagues, it can be easy to slip into what seems like harmless dishonesty. If we aren’t careful, we can fall into routines of lying about our hours, why we weren’t online for a portion of time, if we have started a project, etc. Slacking on our work is dishonoring to the Lord and lying about it only adds to that dishonor. Nobody is perfect or has a spotless track record. At times, we all make mistakes. It brings joy to the Lord when we hold ourselves accountable and are similarly honest with our employers whenever we fail. I have always respected employees who came to me and said “I messed up and made a big mistake” and told me about it before I ever heard about it from someone else. Then it was very easy for me to say, “We all make mistakes. Thank you for owning it. Now tell me what we can all learn from it so that others can make a different mistake rather than the one you just made.” Mistakes are part of learning. You can’t grow without making mistakes along the way.
5. Sow as You Want to Reap
Proverbs 10:4 says that “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” It’s quite simple: we reap what we sow. Another modern equivalent might be “you get back what you put into it.” If we want to excel in our jobs and find favor with our bosses, we cannot expect doing a slack job to get us there. It’s a biblical principle that dates back to the days long before working from a computer was even a thought. If we want to move forward in our careers, we must put our best foot forward, go the extra mile and go above and beyond what is expected of us, even from home. Although your job may be full-time at home, make an effort to go into the office on a regular basis to build relationships. If people don’t know who you are because you work remotely, you may be among the first to be let go when times get tough, and could be over-looked at promotion time.
One of the difficulties of working from home can be keeping our motivation high, especially since many have the additional distractions of our kids or spouse around at times we are trying to concentrate on work. I hope that these Scriptural tips guide you back on track when you are feeling a bit listless as you remember why you work and that there is a God in heaven who is glorified when you work well and bring glory to Him as you represent Him in the workplace.
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