Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people. Colossians 3:23

He said he wasn’t appreciated for how hard he worked at his job. But he had bills to pay and so Michael did the only bare minimum required for his role.  In today’s work world language, Michael “quiet quit.”

Quiet Quitting “describes the idea spreading virally on social media that millions of people are not going above and beyond at work and just meeting their job description.”[1] The trend stands in stark contrast to the Jesus way of living described in Scriptures like Colossians 3:23 (NASB) which says, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people.”

For the follower of Jesus, everything that we have, including our jobs and our abilities, are given to us by God to steward, to oversee, to use to join in God’s redemptive work.  Claire Brosius says that “A career guided by stewardship cultivates a distinct posture and orientation in our hearts, in three ways.  First, a paradigm of stewardship cultivates gratitude and humility,” because “a career viewed through the lens of stewardship isn’t chiefly about you.”

Second, “The paradigm of stewardship helps us focus on God’s plan, not our own.” His plan for our work might have more to do with refining work that He wants to do in our lives, than material success.

Third, says Brosius, “The paradigm of stewardship tempers comparison.”[2] God’s calling, the abilities, the opportunities and jobs He gives to each of us are totally personalized.

[1] Harter, Jim. “Is Quiet Quitting Real?” Gallup.com, Gallup, 6 Sept. 2022, https://www.gallup.com/workplace/398306/quiet-quitting-real.aspx.

[2] Brosius, Claire. “3 Reasons to View Your Career through the Lens of Stewardship.” The Better Samaritan with Jamie Aten and Kent Annan, 5 Sept. 2022, christianitytoday.com/better-samaritan/2022/3-reasons-to-view-your-career-through-lens-of-stewardship.html.