By Sharon K. Perkins

“Has not the one God made and sustained for us the spirit of life?” ~ Malachi 2:15

Productivity.

If you do a word association, it brings to mind things like “output, ” “performance, ” “effectiveness,” “outcome,” or “results—all those visible and measurable characteristics of a job well done.

Work and worth.

But let’s face it: so much of our work in this life doesn’t yield measurable results. I was recently in a conversation with some mothers of school-age children who felt anything but productive. Their days were filled with seemingly mundane tasks that would be repeated the next day. And yet, as one woman observed, “I think if I weren’t there to do those things, our entire household and family would fall apart.” The worlds of business and commerce use terms like “productivity” and “metrics,” but child-rearing—that incredibly labor-intensive task—doesn’t necessarily bring about the outcomes that we imagine or hope for. The same can apply to all kinds of human work that is unrecognized, endless, repetitive, and often unappreciated. And because so much of our culture seeks immediate gratification or equates personal worth with the work we do, it’s not hard to understand why so many hard-working people feel “worthless.”

Made in God’s image and likeness.

The book of Genesis advances the truth that human beings are made in the image and likeness of God—not referring so much to a physical likeness but a participation in God’s attributes and activity. And what does God do? Obviously, God creates, animates, shapes events, and causes things to occur perceptibly and visibly. But God doesn’t simply create and then step away, leaving us all to our own devices. God is also a steward who continually sustains what He has created in myriad hidden ways, intending that His children do the same.

The work of sustaining.

So, what then is God’s eye view of the work we do? How are we to understand those repetitive, mundane, and behind-the-scenes tasks that have little measurable or appreciable result? If we reflect God’s image, we also reflect His divine care to sustain and keep in existence all of creation. That means that the work you or I might consider “worthless” now could actually be the work that, at the end of life, God is celebrating when He tells us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please show me how to be thankful for all the work you have given me to do. Help me to find worth in even the smallest, most hidden tasks, knowing that I am reflecting your divine goodness.

Call to Action:

Think of a task or work that you do that seems mundane, underappreciated, or has no visible or measurable results. Reframe how you think about that task—as having the immeasurable value of sustaining what God has created and placed in your care.

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