Devotions/YouVersion – Page 3

35. Ambition and Your Work – We’re Not Perfect in Our Pursuits

May 26, 2025

Scripture Reading: Psalms 51:10, 139:23-24

Today’s reading is from the Theology of Work Project.

In the New Testament, Paul works as an evangelist, apostle, tentmaker and leatherworker. There are marks of success and ambition in his profession, as in any other. How many converts you win, how much funding you raise, how many people praise you as their spiritual mentor, how your numbers compare to other evangelists—these can be points of pride and ambition. Paul admits that these motivations exist in his profession, but insists that the only proper motivation is love. On the other hand, Paul also acknowledges that regardless of others’ selfish motivations, he is pleased with the end result: Christ being preached.

In Philippians 1:15-18, Paul says: “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

Our ambitions are not always perfectly Christ-centered. We are all tempted to work for the marks of success, including recognition, security and money, which can lead to “selfish ambition.” (The Greek word used for selfish ambition in the context Paul is talking about, eritieias, is perhaps more precisely translated as “unfair self-promotion.”) These temptations often come as we accomplish the legitimate purposes of our jobs. Getting the work done is important, even if our motivation is not perfect. In the long run, however, motivation does matter, and the only Christ-like motivation is love.

If we find our ambitions stray toward selfishness, we can ask God to heal our hearts.

We hope this plan encouraged you. You can find more plans from the Theology of Work Project at www.theologyofwork.org/devotions

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

34. Ambition and Your Work – Submitting Selfish Ambition to God

May 19, 2025

Scripture Reading: James 4:1-8, Matthew 6:31-33

Today’s reflection is from the Theology of Work Project.

In the workplace, one temptation is to use others as stepping stones to our own success. When we steal the credit for a subordinate’s or co-worker’s work, when we withhold information from a rival for promotion, when we shift the blame to someone not present to defend themselves, when we take advantage of someone in a difficult situation, we are guilty of selfish ambition. The book of James is right that this is a chief source of quarrels.

Ironically, selfish ambition may impede success rather than promote it. The higher your position in an organization, the more you depend on others for success. It can be as simple as delegating work to subordinates, or as complex as coordinating an international project team. But if you have a reputation for stepping on other people to get ahead, how can you expect others to trust and follow your leadership?

The book of James says an underlying cause of selfish ambition is failure to depend on God. We fail to depend on God when we don’t ask him for what we need. Interestingly, the reason we don’t depend on God is because we want to serve our own ambitions rather than serving others. We are tempted by the wealth and pleasure we believe we can find in the world without God.

The remedy lies in submitting to God. We submit to God whenever we put our ambition in the service of others ahead of ourselves. Do you want to rise to a position of authority and excellence? Good, begin by helping other workers increase their authority and excellence. Does success motivate you? Good, invest in the success of those around you.

We also submit to God when we go to Him first for our needs. Are you ambitious because you fear what others think of you? Ask God to be your source of security. Are you competitive because you fear losing your job? Try asking God to provide for all your needs.

Further Exploration: Read more on Selfish Ambition and Submission to God (James 3:13 – 4:12) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

33. Ambition and Your Work – What To Do When Your Ambitions Exceed Your Reach

May 12, 2025

Scripture Reading: James 4:13-15, Proverbs 16:9

Today’s reading comes from a reflection by speechwriter and journalist Stephen Martin. He is the author of The Messy Quest for Meaning.

“Sorting through some old files recently, I made a humbling discovery—a list of goals jotted down shortly before publishing my first book in 2012.

Despite good advice from experienced authors about keeping my ambitions in check, I insisted on dreaming big. According to my list, I expected to sell 10,000 copies of the book in the first year.

Sales, however, have amounted to something less than 10,000.

Did I need to sell a lot of books to support my family? No. My wife and I are fortunate to have good day jobs that pay the bills. Did I need my blog to go viral to find fulfillment? No. I’m blessed with a great family and many wonderful friends.

Did coming up short of my own expectations bother me? Absolutely.

The irony, of course, is that my book explores why struggle can be good for our souls, and that sometimes, to paraphrase the Rolling Stones, it’s better to get what we need instead of what we want. I still believe this principle is true, even if I hoped it wouldn’t apply to me.

This was a lesson in poverty of spirit – the grace of embracing not only our abilities, but also our limitations as opportunities to grow in self-awareness and faith, a reluctant acknowledgement that we often cannot dictate the outcomes of our efforts.

As German Catholic theologian Johannes Baptist Metz has observed, “We are all members of a species that is not sufficient unto itself. We are all creatures plagued by unending doubts and restless, unsatisfied hearts.”

We are, in other words, proud people who attempt at every turn to minimize our reliance on God and inflate our sense of self-importance. When our dreams exceed our reach, we have a choice. We can lose heart and despair. Or we can say thank you and wait for further guidance.”

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

32. Ambition and Your Work – Is It Ok to Work to Make Money?

May 5, 2025

Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Ephesians 4:28

Today’s reading is from blogger J.B. Wood, a business executive who writes about the challenges of integrating his professional life and his spiritual life. Here, he explores whether making money in business can be a way of serving God.

“The problem I encountered as a young Christian was that I often detected a quiet disapproval coming from the church when it came to having an interest in pursuing a “secular” career. I felt a gnawing sense that any desire to earn a solid income was somehow the antithesis of spirituality, associated instead with selfishness, materialism and worldliness.

Growing up, the…church taught me that the only ambition God was truly pleased with was the passion for making disciples, missions, or leading others to Christ. So if you had a sincere spiritual desire to seek out God’s plan for your life, then by default your primary vocation was going to be a disciple-maker. Just like Jesus (the missionary Jesus, not the working-for-the-family-business carpenter Jesus).

But what if I am not “called” to that? What if my gifts, talents and personality are better suited for business pursuits? I struggled with this for years as I developed a career in management consulting.

Thankfully, scripture makes it clear that God applauds (not just allows) working to earn.

The Bible teaches about using money:

1. To meet your own personal need for support.

2. To care for the needs of your family.

3. To have enough to share with those in need and help meet the needs of the world.

Greed can be dangerous, but as High Calling blogger Larry Peabody has put it, ‘So can hammers, horses, and hot plates. Any of them can be properly used—or misused. The Bible warns us that wanting to get rich sets us up for a tumble into a snare. And it calls loving money “the root of all kinds of evil.” But with sound teaching and right hearts, believers can live by faith even as they earn their incomes and use the money in God-approved ways.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

31. Ambition & Your Work – Jesus Calls Us to Be Ambitious

April 28, 2025

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:9-11

Andy Crouch is the Executive Editor of Christianity Today magazine and author of Culture Making. In today’s reading, he discusses how ambition fits in with our work, and how we can keep our ambitions aligned with Christ.

“It’s all in what you’re ambitious for and in how you’re working toward your ambition.

Jesus…sowed seed on all kinds of ground. On the best ground, one seed falls in the ground and multiplies 30, 60, or 100 times. My ambition is to place myself—in the things that I do and the places I go and the kind of cultural creativity I engage in—on the best ground so I will see that kind of abundance.

It’s very important to emphasize that abundance doesn’t come from my striving. Sometimes ambition and striving are equated so that I’m trying to claw my way into influence. I have not seen that bear good fruit in individual lives or even in the broader culture. But, I have seen people bear good fruit when they are ambitious to be where God is multiplying.

One of the biggest threats and challenges in our own culture is this constant frenetic busyness that simply prevents us from ever contemplating what we’re creating; why we’re creating it; what our ambitions are.—I always go back to the basic disciplines of silence, solitude, and fasting, along with immersion into worshipping God and studying life of the church, studying the story, the Bible that orients us. Sabbath becomes tremendously important. And, that’s what the disciplines are for. They cleanse us of useless motivations that lead to people doing really stupid things to get noticed or to get power or to get wealth. In their place comes the spirit of Christ, who actually prepares us to be very ambitious.

We pray a very ambitious prayer on a regular basis: “Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” But, at the same time, we pray a very small prayer: “Give us today our daily bread.”

When we pray these prayers together, then we’re placing ourselves in the right place to be used by God in what he’s doing in the world…”

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

30. Ambition & Your Work – What Does Godly Ambition Look Like?

April 21, 2025

Scripture Reading: 2:1-4, 3:14

For some Christians, the word “ambition” has negative connotations. And yet, we are called to be people who “run in such a way as to get the prize” and “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called..[us]..heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)—That sounds pretty ambitious. But toward what end? What is the prize that we seek? The book of Philippians says the goal is “to know Christ.”

Godly ambition aims to know and follow Christ, not just at church, but in the workplace as well. Since he is God over our whole lives, we can make it our goal to know him more and live for his glory wherever we are.

Godly ambition is also characterized by concern for the welfare of others. As we grow in knowing Jesus, we will develop a passion for God and his redemptive purposes for the world. Like Jesus, we are called to look not only to our own interests, but to the interests of others:

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)

Over the next 5 days, we’ll explore ambition from the perspectives of a few different authors, including Andy Crouch, J.B. Wood, Stephen Martin and the Theology of Work Project.

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

29. Anxiety About Work – Enjoy Work Despite Anxiety

April 14, 2025

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 8:7, 9:10

If the dictionary is right that anxiety comes from uncertainty or lack of control, then anxiety may often be part of your work experience.

No person has perfect control or certainty about the future. God is the only one with perfect knowledge and power. It’s true that you do have important workplace responsibilities. You plan for contingencies, and you try to know as much as you can about your competitive environment. But in the end, there’s a gap between what you know and the big question mark of the future. That’s always been true. As the writer of Ecclesiastes puts it: “Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come?” (Ecclesiastes 8:7)

This might cause anxiety at work, but it can also be a great source of relief. Since you do not have ultimate control over the outcome of your work, you are free to enjoy what you can and leave the results up to God. The writer of Ecclesiastes urges you to do this, saying, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Your daily work can be an important source of fulfillment, even if the outcome is ultimately out of your hands.

When you accept God’s control over the outcomes of your work, you are more likely to enjoy work as it comes. You can better appreciate the good times at work, and you are relieved to recognize your lack of control in the bad times. The book of Ecclesiastes concludes: it is God’s gift to be able to enjoy your work, not to control it.

Fear, worry, and insecurity have always been a part of the human experience. The Bible does not contain an easy fix for workplace anxiety. Instead, the Bible repeats this simple advice that is easy to say but challenging to follow: Trust God. Do your best at work and let go of the outcome.

Anxieties and difficult situations will come and go at work. But God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Prayer: God, I give you control over my work today in all its troubles and frustrations. Please guide me towards peaceful acceptance of your power. Take charge of the outcome of my work and remove my anxiety. Amen.

Further Exploration: If you enjoyed this plan, find more plans from the Theology of Work Project at www.theologyofwork.org/devotions

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

28. Anxiety about Work – Anxiety about Bosses and Coworkers

April 7, 2025

Scripture Reading: Daniel 6:10-11

Other people can cause anxiety at work. They might be unreliable, let you down in a pinch, or stand in the way of your progress. Or you might have a boss or coworker who is downright hostile. What can you do when other people are the source of your workplace anxiety?

Daniel faced these hardships on the job. He had a boss who was a violent narcissist. His coworkers were actively trying to undermine him. What did Daniel do? He didn’t retaliate or stoop to the political machinations of his coworkers. Instead, Daniel went about his job like normal. He went on “just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10). He went into his room and prayed. He gave thanks to God and asked for God’s help.

Daniel’s prayer did not save him from having to go through trials. Daniel still got thrown into the Lion’s den. But God used Daniel’s ordeal for good. Thanks to Daniel’s faithfulness in the face of opposition, the pagan king ended up praising Daniel’s God. And in the end Daniel prospered in his work in Persia, despite the people problem that had plagued his work environment.

More importantly, God saved Daniel from anxiety in these times of workplace strife. Daniel did his job: showing up, praying, thanking God, and asking for God’s help. God did the rest of the work, taking care of Daniel and ultimately prospering him in his workplace.

If you have hostile coworkers or management, ask God for help. Pray for your coworkers. Don’t retaliate or stoop to their level. Show up to do your work as best you can. And think about what you can thank God for in your current circumstances. Your workplace enemies may end up impressed by your faith.

Prayer: God, help me through the trials of working with other people. Protect my character from any attacks. Give me faith when other people hurt me or let me down. I thank you for the opportunity to bring good out of difficult situations. Amen.

Further Exploration: Read more about Daniel’s workplace in the Theology of Work Bible Commentary

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

27. Anxiety About Work – About Success

March 31, 2025

Scripture Reading: Psalms 107:31-38, 1 Samuel 24.7

The benchmarks you face in your job can drive anxiety over success. Are you going to hit your goals this year? Is your company performing as well as its competitors? These questions can feel like a heavy burden to bear, especially if you think success is 100% your own responsibility.

Fortunately, success is not entirely up to you. God has a big hand in whether your plans succeed. Psalm 107 points out that people’s lives and livelihoods depend on many factors out of their control. You do your best, but God is the one who turns your work intro rewards. People “sow fields” on the ground that God waters, and it’s by God’s blessing that “they multiply greatly.” Whether you work on a farm or in the modern workplace, you are not solely responsible for the success of your work. God provides the foundations for successful work, and God is ultimately in charge of the outcome.

You may be anxious not only over short-term projects but about your success in the long term. Climbing the corporate ladder. Running the rat race. If these phrases make your palms sweaty, it may be that you’re anxious to get ahead in your career.

David was a bible character who demonstrated how to give God control over his career. Even though he was promised a leadership position from a very young age, David didn’t rush to oust his boss Saul. Instead, David trusted God to give him the right job at the right time. He eventually became king, but on God’s timing.

Success, whether in the short term or the long term, is a gift from God. The response to success should be, as Psalm 107 puts it, to “thank the Lord for his steadfast love.” On the flip side, if you are anxious about success, remember that God is responsible, not you. God knows what you need. He’s got the timing and the outcome under his control.

Prayer: Thank you God for knowing what I need today and in the future. I trust in your timing. Help me seek your Kingdom today. Amen.

Further Exploration: Read more on God Undergirds All Work and Productivity (Psalm 107) from the Theology of Work Bible Commentary

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

26. Anxiety About Work – Anxiety About Getting It All Done

March 24, 2025

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42

Mary and Martha worked together to provide hospitality to those who visited their home. A visit one evening from Jesus and his friends threw Martha into an anxious state. Would she be able to get it all done? Would the guests be happy? Her worry moved her to complain to Jesus: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work myself?”

In response, Jesus shifted the conversation from the sisters’ task load to the sisters’ relationship with him. “You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Jesus declined to task manage between Mary and Martha. Instead he put the spotlight back on himself. Without minimizing Martha’s generous service, Jesus pointed out that the “one thing” Martha needed most was to be rooted in her relationship with him.

Jesus’ love would be the only way the sisters could complete their work in peacefulness and joy. Because she hadn’t taken time to sit at Jesus’ feet, Martha was an anxious wreck.

Martha’s work was important, just as your work today is important too. But unless you ground yourself in Jesus’ love for you, your important work will breed anxiety. When you feel yourself getting wound up, take a moment with Jesus. Take ten deep breaths, or call a friend to pray with you. Once you focus on the one most important thing (Jesus) your task list will be less stress provoking. You may even be able to discern what’s most essential on your list today, and what can wait for tomorrow.

For many people, performance is a source of identity. When your identity centers around your ability to get things done, you only feel good when you’re busy, and any inevitable delays make you feel terrible. You may stress about what others will think of you if you don’t get it all done perfectly. If this is you, ask Jesus to give you a different identity, based on relationship with him.

Prayer: God, I am anxious and worried about many things, but you are all that I need. Help me focus on you first. Amen.

Further Exploration: Read more about Mary and Martha in the Theology of Work Bible Commentary .

Author: Theology of Work Project

Theology of Work Project Online Materials by Theology of Work Project, Inc. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org

You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work.

Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Called To Work

Category: Devotions/YouVersion

35. Ambition and Your Work – We’re Not Perfect in Our Pursuits

34. Ambition and Your Work – Submitting Selfish Ambition to God

33. Ambition and Your Work – What To Do When Your Ambitions Exceed Your Reach

32. Ambition and Your Work – Is It Ok to Work to Make Money?

31. Ambition & Your Work – Jesus Calls Us to Be Ambitious

30. Ambition & Your Work – What Does Godly Ambition Look Like?

29. Anxiety About Work – Enjoy Work Despite Anxiety

28. Anxiety about Work – Anxiety about Bosses and Coworkers

27. Anxiety About Work – About Success

26. Anxiety About Work – Anxiety About Getting It All Done

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