As business leaders, we place tremendous value in our work. We are responsible not just for the work itself, but also for the customers and colleagues with which we interact. In times of success, we may feel pressure to keep pushing for the next milestone. And in challenging periods, our work may feel like a burden too heavy to carry.

It is in these times that we may ask ourselves why we work. While there is satisfaction in achieving financial success or driving company growth, these feelings can be fleeting. What do we gain from our efforts?

God's Design for Work

God's design for work goes all the way back to Genesis 1. [1] We were created to work and be productive, and to take pleasure in the good work we are doing. In fact, in Ecclesiastes 3, King Solomon says that finding satisfaction in our work is "the gift of God". [2] Although work can be toilsome, we are called to be joyful and to take pleasure in all our labor.

As well as a gift, our work is also an opportunity. God is actively working to redeem the world and restore people to Him, and our work is a tool which can be leveraged for that mission. In C12, we call this "Business as a Ministry" (BaaM), a concept that encapsulates the idea of using your business platform to make a difference beyond financial success. You might not have been called into “vocational ministry” in the sense you are a paid pastor or missionary, but you have been called to a vocation that can be leveraged for ministry.

Business as a Ministry is at the very heart of C12. If you would like to learn more about applying BaaM principles to your company, we would be happy to connect you with a C12 Business Forum right here in Georgia and South Carolina.

In addition to being a gift and an opportunity, our work is also a blessing. Through our work, we can bless others with the gifts God has given us. [3] We glorify God and bless the world as we fulfill creation mandates [4] and gospel imperatives through business. [5]



God's Design for Work

Do we view work as a gift, an opportunity, and a blessing? If not, how can we — with God’s help — see work as He sees it? It may take continual -- sometimes daily -- effort, but when we allow God to transform our perspective, our actions become more intentional, our joy increases, and our work gains deeper significance. Adopting an eternal view of business enhances our sense of purpose and increases our effectiveness in creating an eternal impact far beyond the bottom line.

God cares about our businesses, and He has entrusted them to us for our joy and His glory. The task of embracing this responsibility is one we all must face, but it does not have to be a solo endeavor. C12 creates a framework that compels and equips Christian business leaders to build great businesses for a greater purpose through the power of peers.

Click here to learn more and find a C12 Business Forum near you.

1. Genesis 1:28.
2. Ecclesiastes 3:13
3. Hebrews 13:16; 1 Peter 4:10. See also the C12 ministry segments “The Generous Life” (June 2024) and “Systemizing Corporate Giving” (July 2024)
4. Genesis 1:28
5. Proverbs 11:10.