January 18, 2026

About the Author: Dr. James J. Jones, PhD, PA-C, is a senior healthcare leader, clinician, educator, and U.S. Army officer with decades of experience in military medicine, executive leadership, and public health. He currently serves in senior leadership roles supporting executive, protective, and clinical medical operations and teaches graduate-level healthcare administration and public health courses.

Disclaimer: This article is written in a personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies, positions, or endorsements of the White House, the Department of War, or the United States Government.

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Every life is marked by two dates: the day we are born and the day we die. Between those dates is a simple line—the dash. That dash represents our story. It captures how we lived, what we valued, and who we served. While the world often measures success by titles, income, or recognition, Scripture reminds us that what truly matters is how we live our dash with eternal purpose.

The apostle Paul writes that each person’s work will one day be revealed and tested, and if what we have built endures, there will be a reward (1 Corinthians 3:13–14). That truth forces an uncomfortable but necessary question: when my work is tested, what will remain?

One of the most overlooked but significant parts of the dash is work. Most of us will spend at least one-third of our lives working. God cares deeply about how we approach it, because work is not separate from faith. It is one of the primary places where faith is revealed, refined, and sometimes tested.

Pastor Steve Reynolds’ teaching from Colossians 3:22–4:1 challenges us to take God to work—not symbolically, but practically—so that our daily labor carries eternal weight.

Work Is Spiritual

The first step in taking God to work is recognizing that work itself is spiritual. Scripture says, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23). Work was God’s idea long before sin entered the world. In Genesis, God created the heavens and the earth, completed His work, and rested. Humanity was then created in His image and given responsibility to steward creation.

Work is not a punishment; it is a calling.

I learned this lesson long before I ever wore a uniform or held a leadership title. As a child, I worked because I had to. There was no safety net, no guarantee, and no applause. I worked on farms, ran equipment, washed dishes, and did jobs most people never see. At the time, it felt like survival. Looking back, I see that God was forming discipline, humility, and resilience long before I understood faith or calling.

Scripture teaches that work meets legitimate needs and preserves dignity. Those unwilling to work should not expect provision, and believers are called to provide for their households as a testimony of faithfulness. Work also allows us to give. God gives us the ability to gain wealth not for selfish gain, but so we can bless others and meet real needs.

In healthcare and military service, I have seen this play out repeatedly. Systems break down when responsibility disappears. Communities thrive when people see work not as entitlement, but as stewardship.

Obey Your Boss with the Right Heart

Taking God to work means honoring authority. Scripture instructs workers to obey sincerely, not just when being watched. This obedience is not rooted in fear of people, but in reverence for God.

Believers are called to obey whether leadership is kind or difficult. This does not excuse abuse or injustice, but it does require Christlike character even in imperfect systems.

Early in my military career, I served under leaders I deeply respected—and under some I did not. I learned that my obedience was not ultimately about them. It was about who I served. There were moments when integrity meant doing the right thing quietly, without recognition, and sometimes without agreement. Those moments shaped my leadership far more than promotions ever did.

Attitude matters as much as action. When we work with integrity, respect, and consistency, our conduct becomes a testimony. People may never read Scripture, but they will read how we work.

Work Is Worship

Work becomes worship when it is done wholeheartedly for the Lord. Worship is not confined to a church service. It is expressed through excellence, effort, and faithfulness in daily responsibilities.

In executive medicine, emergency care, and leadership roles, I have seen the consequences of treating work as transactional instead of sacred. Shortcuts cost lives. Indifference erodes trust. Conversely, when people see their work as service—when they show up prepared, humble, and accountable—entire cultures change.

True worship at work also means seeking to please God rather than people. When motivation shifts from approval to obedience, work gains eternal significance. Ordinary tasks become acts of devotion when done with the right heart.

You Will Receive a Reward

God sees all work done in His name. Scripture makes it clear that everyone will give an account to God for how they lived and worked. While salvation is by grace, believers are accountable for stewardship.

This perspective has shaped how I view leadership. Titles expire. Positions change. Influence fades. But faithfulness lasts. I have learned that eternal reward is not built through visibility, but through obedience—often unseen, often uncelebrated.

Work is not just about paychecks or promotions. It is about honoring Christ and storing up what cannot be taken away.

Lead with Humility and Integrity

For those in leadership, the responsibility is greater. Scripture commands leaders to treat others justly and fairly, remembering that they too answer to a Master in heaven. Leaders will be judged by a stricter standard.

I have seen firsthand what happens when leaders forget that truth. Pride fractures organizations. Unchecked authority damages people. But I have also seen the power of humble leadership—leaders who listen, accept accountability, and place people above ego.

Leading well means serving others, rejecting favoritism, and modeling Christlike character even when decisions are difficult.

Living the Dash at Work

Your job is not just where you earn a living. It is where you live out your faith.

When work is viewed as spiritual, obedience becomes worship. When leadership is humble, authority becomes stewardship. When integrity guides decisions, trust is built.

Taking God to work means recognizing that the dash between your dates is shaped every day by how you work, how you treat others, and how faithfully you serve. When your work is done for the Lord, your dash becomes a testimony that outlives titles, careers, and even this life.

Closing Reflection

The dash is written one day at a time.

Not in sermons alone. Not in intentions. But in how we work when no one is watching.

How are you living yours?

Acknowledgment This article is inspired by the sermon “The Dash: Making Your Life Matter – Take God to Work” by Pastor Steve Reynolds, Capitol Baptist Church, Annandale, Virginia.

Scripture References: The Holy Bible, New King James Version Genesis 1–2 Colossians 3:22–4:1 1 Corinthians 3:13–14 2 Thessalonians 3:10 Ephesians 4:28 James 3:1