Most of us will recognize the inspiration for my title: Chariots of Fire. I have to admit I wondered WHY God cared if Eric Lidell ran. His sister agreed with me. After all, how did running spread the Gospel? Eric had no idea that, eventually, someone would make a movie out of his story.
Now, I am no Eric Lidell. I doubt movies will be made about me. But I do like writing. All my previous jobs involved writing of some kind. As a scientist, I wrote erudite (read boring) articles for journals. As a professor, I wrote homework, PowerPoint slides, and exams (also less than fascinating). As the founder of a nonprofit, I wrote LOTS of newsletters and blog articles. And as the CEO of a technology start-up, I wrote business plans, patents, and other legal documents. Obviously, some of that writing was not my favorite kind, but I always enjoyed the writing process.
Now, I get to indulge myself: I write whatever I like! Adult books, picture books, and kid’s books. Bible studies, manuals on how to do science at home, and blog articles on any number of things. You might wonder how any of this brings God glory. You might argue it doesn’t. After all, not all of my books and articles are specifically Christian. And yet, when I write, I feel His pleasure.
Could it be that God loves it when any of us do what He made us to do, whether it is sing, dance, add rows of numbers, direct traffic, or ride our bikes? Just as not all the parts of the body are needed for preaching, we know that all are needed, even the little toe. And just as not all Christians have “sacred” callings, we are all loved by God and needed in His world, even those who climb trees to get coconuts. (Apologies to the coconut climbers among us.)
So, no matter what your job, whether you earn money or not, whether you spend your time wiping noses and bottoms or designing rockets, when you do what God made you to do, He loves it because He loves you. Enjoy feeling His pleasure.