THE RIGHT MESSAGE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED ABOUT WORK

Let me throw out a statement and see how you’d respond:

“The only work that REALLY matters is work that leads to saving souls.”

Not long ago, I tested this with a group of young adults, ages 18–22.

I framed it like one of Charlie Kirk’s “Prove Me Wrong” debates.

But there was a problem — no one disagreed.

Instead, they said things like, “That IS the only thing that matters for eternity.”

And that mindset? It’s everywhere.

This past summer at Made4More, one of our student interns shared with us his church openly looks down on careers outside of ministry.

He was told that those who want to do something meaningful for the Lord should become pastors or missionaries.

Can you imagine hearing that as a teenager trying to figure out your future?

It’s no wonder so many young people feel confused or unmotivated when it comes to connecting their faith to their careers.

But the Bible paints a completely different picture.

From the opening pages of Genesis, God is introduced himself as a WORKER—a creator,

builder, artist, and sustainer. He calls all His work Good, and then forms man in His image to

represent Him. (Genesis 1)

From the beginning, God invites us to join Him in cultivating His creation—to develop culture and reveal His goodness through what we make and do. (Gen 1:28)

That means work doesn’t only matter when it looks like traditional “ministry.”

Author and Pastor Tom Nelson puts it this way:

“As image-bearers of God, who is a worker, we must remember that our work has intrinsic value in itself. We have been designed to work, to be fellow workers with God.”

In other words—so-called “secular” work matters.

We do incredible harm to young people when we treat anything outside of church ministry as second-class Christianity.

But what if every student consistently heard this message loud and clear?

All work matters to God.

The same student who once felt discouraged from pursuing “secular”work from his church said this after their summer internship experience at Made4More:

“I learned I can glorify God through business, serve through my gifts, and it gave me confidence for my future.”

Would you have said that at 17?

That’s the kind of clarity every teen needs.

Every student should know they can glorify God in every career, not just a few that seem

“spiritual.”

Let’s make sure every young person discovers that truth.