Does Your Work Need A New Story? with Dr. Tom Nelson

Sep 1, 2025

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What if your work isn’t just a job—but part of God’s bigger story for your life?

For some, work is a source of stress, struggle, or simply something to endure. But what if we’re seeing it all wrong? What if God designed work to be a vital part of how we worship Him and serve others? Dr. Tom Nelson joins us today to talk about that.

Dr. Tom Nelson is the President of Made to Flourish and has served as the Senior Pastor of Christ Community Church, a multi-site congregation across Kansas City, for over 30 years. He is also the author of Why Your Work Matters: How God Uses Our Everyday Vocations to Transform Us, Our Neighbors, and the World.

False Narratives About Work

Culture tells us many things about work—most of them untrue.

“Thank God it’s Friday” reflects the belief that work is a curse and that our real lives happen only on weekends.
Work as mere productivity reduces our calling to a paycheck or to-do list.
Sacred vs. secular divide suggests ministry work matters more than other vocations.

However, if we return to Genesis 1 and 2, we find that work is not a curse. Work is God’s good design. Whether paid or unpaid, our work is part of how we glorify Him.

The Four-Chapter Story of Work

Dr. Tom Nelson uses a “four-chapter” framework to show how the Bible shapes a proper view of work:

Creation – What Ought to Be. God designed work as a gift and a reflection of His image. Work and worship were never meant to be separate.
The Fall – What Is. Sin corrupted work, introducing toil, frustration, and broken relationships.
Redemption – What Can Be. Through Christ, our work can be redeemed. Whether changing diapers, leading a company, or volunteering, we bring God’s presence into every environment.
New Creation – What Will Be. One day, we will experience work in its perfect form—creative, joyful, and without sin—in God’s restored Kingdom.

One of the most transformative ideas to remember is that all work done for God’s glory is sacred. Work is contribution, not just compensation. We carry God’s presence with us into our workplaces because the Holy Spirit dwells within us.

This perspective breaks down the artificial barrier between “spiritual” and “secular” work. It gives believers a seamless life of worship—Sunday through Monday.

Hope for the Future

We won’t spend eternity sitting on clouds. Revelation offers us a glimpse of a garden city where we will worship Jesus and engage in creative, joyful work—free from sin, frustration, and the need for perfect relationships with God and others.

If you’ve believed that your work doesn’t matter, be encouraged that you were created with work in mind. God is with you in your work. When you embrace Jesus and become His apprentice, you’ll learn to live a seamless life where every task, big or small, can glorify Him.

Dr. Tom Nelson’s latest book, Why Your Work Matters: How God Uses Our Everyday Vocations to Transform Us, Our Neighbors, and the World, is available wherever books are sold. To learn more about integrating faith and work, visit MadeToFlourish.org.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

I’d like advice on how to invest between $30,000 and $60,000 to generate steady monthly or quarterly dividends. My goal is to cover about $150 a month to help with some expenses.
I’ve been on SSDI for about five or six years due to health issues, and I also earn about $1,400 a month from a part-time job. Am I allowed to contribute to an IRA with this income?

Resources Mentioned:

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