Making much of Christ from 8 to 5

Well this last week I finished reading chapter 8 of Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life” for the 2nd time. After having read the whole book, I started pondering what I liked the most and I couldn’t stop thinking about this chapter about making much of Christ in a secular job. Part of this exercise has been spurred on by my recent career involvement with Bank of America. I just interviewed last Friday to score a position as a personal banker at the good ol’ BofA, and this next week will be spent interviewing at different banking centers to see which will be the best fit. So, naturally I have been thinking much about how I can live to not waste my life in the work force.

As I interviewed this morning at a certain center I actually had the opportunity to tell an interviewing manager why I have had a history of success at Bank of America. I told him that the work that I do for BofA is a reflection on the God that I serve. I told him that since I am a Christian I naturally strive harder than anyone else to exceed all of my goals because I would dishonor God if I didn’t do an excellent job. I was reminded this morning that truly we can have an impact on the secular world by merely “making much of Christ from 8 to 5.” The last sentence of the chapters says this:

"If you work like the world, you will waste your life, no matter how rich you get. But if your work creates a web of redemptive relationships and becomes an adornment for the Gospel of the glory of Christ, your satisfaction will last forever and God will be exalted in your joy.”

I desperately don’t want to waste my life, be it in work or any other activity that I endeavor. I am only here on this earth for the short amount of time that God gives me and I know that it would be so foolish to pursue the things of the world. I think this is definitely an area that God continues to sanctify me on because naturally my flesh desires things of the world. It is so easy for me to think about having that Honda S2000, or the nice house, or the fancy “gadgets and gismos a plenty.” It is easy to think about wasting my life away on pleasurable things, but I really want so much more than that! I want to make an impact for Christ! I want to live to bring a smile to my Saviors face. I want to make others happy in God.

I think for me it is just so easy to live like a selfish pig! I think, “gee, I’m saved. . . this is great. . . the world really doesn’t’ know what they are missing.” Well, I want to do more than just think these thoughts, I want to really make an impact for the kingdom of Christ. I want to see the Spiritual needs of others and meet those needs with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and his redemtion for sin.

“Dear Lord, please allow me to make a difference in this world of people that hate you. Let me be salt and light and may I bring more honor to your name as a personal banker at Bank of America than if I were to be doing any other job. Let me not live to please myself, but let me live to make others happy in You. I love you, but help me to love you more. Help my love to be sacrificial and steadfast. I desire to be a Christian in the work force that honors you with excellence on the job, and one who is also not shy to be a light to the darkness. Make me live to honor you and may I help others to make much of You! In the powerful name of Christ who has granted me freedom to truly be different, Amen!”