God Uses Your Work to Develop Your Character



In the book of Genesis, there’s the story of a man named Joseph. God gave Joseph a vision of becoming a great leader, but for 40 years he spent his life as a slave, and much of that time he actually spent working in prison. That was the testing ground of Joseph’s character, and when the day came and the time was just right, God pulled him out of that setting and placed him where he always intended Joseph to be. The whole time, God was growing Joseph’s character.

God is far more concerned about who you are than what you do. He is much more interested in your character than he is in your career. But God does use your work and your workplace to develop your character. Your workplace is a life course in character development.

Do you have a boss who drives you nuts? Think about this. God can use a boss who tests your patience, and he can use a workplace that you’re unhappy in to develop and grow your character. He plants seeds of love, joy, peace, and patience in your heart, and then he fertilizes those seeds while you work.

You may be at work and wonder, “How come this is going on? Why is this such a tough place? Why are these people picking on me? Why can’t I be happier at my workplace?” You’re really just asking the same question that Solomon asked in Ecclesiastes 1:3: “You spend your life working, laboring, and what do you have to show for it?” (GNT)

The answer is character. Life is preparation for eternity. You’re not going to take your career with you to Heaven, but you are going to take your character. And while you are here on Earth, God is developing your character and testing your faithfulness. Will you be faithful to do the right thing, even when you don’t feel like doing the right thing? He’s watching so that he can determine what kind of job he is going to give you in eternity.

Jesus said in Luke 16:10-12, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much .…  If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (NIV)

Talk It Over
  • What struggle are you facing in your workplace?
  • How might God be using it to build your character?


~ Written by: Rick Warren ~
~ Modified by: Oleg Fabyanchuk ~

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