Thank God it's Monday.

In his book The Call, Oz Guiness describes two different perspectives of work. One he calls the Catholic Distortion, which suggests that there is a perfect will of God, and a permissive will of God. The perfect will refers to vocational church ministry, while the permissive will refers to other secular work. The latter is impliedly inferior to the first. Hence, to work in the marketplace is less of an act of worship to God.

On the other hand, the Protestant Distortion refers to the idea that one's work is worship. This idea began in the roaring 20s where Henry Ford called "work the salvation of the human race" and where President Coolidge declared, "The man who builds a factory builds a temple. ... The man who works there worships there."

Both views distort a biblical approach to work.

Jesus, our perfect model, worked almost 20 years in vocational secular work as a carpenter. This was God's perfect will for Him; it was not His permissive will. On the other hand, our work is to be done unto God, but work is not worship in itself. 1 Cor. 10:31.

Where do you find yourself?

Do you feel guilty working in the secular marketplace? Unless God is calling you elsewhere, which is the exception rather than the rule, you shouldn't. We are called to be "domestic missionaries." As we begin to see our job as a "vocation" rather than just a "job," God will begin to open opportunities for ministry and advancement. Ps. 1:1-3.

Or do you worship your work? We are called to be "salt" and "light," and ultimately agents of change in the marketplace. Work should not be an idol. Too often when we view work as a "job" we begin to worship the proceeds of that work: money and power. But as we view our jobs as a vocation, we realize that our job is not about us, but it is about others.

Thank God it's Monday.