Beyond the Paycheck: 5 Ways Your Vocation Links Life to Faith

For too long, many of us have lived with a harmful split in our minds: the sacred versus the secular. We relegate our faith to Sundays and volunteer hours, viewing our weekday job as merely a necessity, a means to a paycheck, or as some separate version of ourselves.

But what if the time you spend at your desk, on the construction site, or in a client meeting is not a detour from your faith, but the perfect place where your faith can be powerfully expressed?

The truth is simple: Vocation can be worship and ministry.

Our work, when performed heartily and with integrity, is one of the most profound acts of devotion we can offer. The Christian’s calling is to glorify God in all things, and that includes our jobs.

As Apostle Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV).

Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

When our daily work is fueled by love for God, the quality of our work becomes an offering, and our professional position becomes a strategic platform for influencing others for Christ.

Here are five ways Christians are currently linking their faith to their daily lives, transforming their careers and “work” into acts of worship and ministry.

I. Redirecting Skills and Expertise: Worship Through Service

One of the most powerful expressions of worship is taking the high-value, specialized skills God has given us and directing them toward genuine needs.

Consider my friend Philip Bae, the Architect, who wanted to serve God more explicitly. After working on architecting for churches, he switched to work at 100 Fold Studio. His relationship with God led him to begin using his architectural design skills in less resourced regions. To do so, he had to give up his salaried position and start to fundraise for himself. After fundraising for a year, he was able to raise enough self-support to start working at 100 Fold Studio.

Most recently, he designed a large mission center in Bangladesh. By doing so, he is performing worship through service. His professional life is a direct offering, providing essential infrastructure that supports the physical and spiritual needs of the Kingdom community.

“I was working at an architectural firm and started to feel dry,” Bae said. “I wanted to serve God more directly, and then this opportunity came up. My wife and family were supportive of the move, so we prayed and decided to do it. Now I feel alive again.”

How You Can Use This Platform: Look for opportunities for pro-bono work, career sabbaticals, or roles within faith-based nonprofits that desperately need your specific, non-ministry expertise—be it HR, IT, legal, or accounting.

II. Relational Ministry and Witness: Worship Through Integrity

The workplace provides the ultimate test of faith: how do you behave when the pressure is on? Our colleagues see our consistency, our patience, and our ethics on full display.

My friend, John Shi, a Salesman for a clothing manufacturing firm, uses his daily interactions with clients to spread the gospel. During a business trip to California, he was able to witness to a client, who is the owner of a large clothing company, who had never heard the gospel before. This client was from Asia and so it was a cross-border missional opportunity. He said that this client was really listening and seemed receptive.

“My work is an opportunity for me to share the gospel,” Shi said. “I enjoy getting into these conversations and feel amazed when they receive [the message].”

He attends his church’s small group every week and is committed to opening his home for fellowship and Bible study on a rotation. He also joins a daily prayer meeting over the phone where they read a Psalm a day, and so he fills his mind with the word of truth. With roots planted deep in living water, “he shall bring forth fruit and his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Because of his daily devotion time and weekly Bible study, this verse comes to mind. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” It’s in Jesus that we can then bear fruit.

How You Can Use This Platform: See your colleagues as neighbors to be loved, not just co-workers. Commit to praying for specific people in your department and look for natural opportunities to practice “Gospel fluency”—making faith discussions authentic, compassionate, and relevant to the challenges they face. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” By staying rooted in his faith through daily devotion habits, he finds the strength to thrive that he simply wouldn't have on his own.

III. Systemic Transformation and Justice: Worship Through Stewardship

God cares deeply about justice and the marginalized. When we use our professional influence and resources to address systemic brokenness, we are worshipping through tangible action.

Take the example of Jeffrey Li, my husband, who is a Finance Professional. He applied his financial background to work on creating a micro-lending opportunity in South Asia. This act of worship through stewardship leverages capital and influence to create sustainable economic solutions, empowering the vulnerable and reflecting God's compassion on a large scale.

During a short-term mission, he recognized a critical gap in affordable credit. He discovered that even modest infusions of capital—as little as $1,000—could be life-changing for those in need. For example, one young man had to walk many miles to go from village to village spreading the gospel and helping church planters. By letting him have access to a motorcycle, he was able to multiply this young man’s fruit. This young man was then able to serve in missions while also self-supporting via part-time jobs.

“Such a small amount could make such a big difference in these people’s lives,” Li said. “We don’t realize how small the effort could be that God could use and multiply. Just like the small boy with only 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread, God can use it to feed 5,000.”

How You Can Use This Platform: Use your knowledge of finance, law, or business development to consult for ministries. Start to pray for God to show you how you could partner with someone and participate in Kingdom services.

IV. Utilizing New Technology and Creative Frontiers: Worship Through Creativity

God is the ultimate Creator, and when we create beauty, solve problems, or communicate truth using new tools, we reflect His image and offer worship.

Bergen Christian Testimony Church's frequent guest speaker, Pastor John Sideco, is leveraging the cutting-edge tools of today by making music videos using AI. He is using the most recent technologies to create compelling, high-quality, faith-based music videos that engage current culture and demonstrates that faith belongs at the forefront of secular life too.

John Sideco’s Youtube channel, Vinefruit2024 now has 4,730 subscribers after only a year. He states that his music is to fuse the Word of God with song. Unlike many mainstream Christian songs today, he wants to embed the Word into the lyrics. His song, “Crucified with Christ” is the gospel in a 3-minute rendition. The catchy chorus croons, “I am crucified with Christ. By His love, I am justified. I live no longer on my own. I’m his child being transformed.” Indeed, it’s been transforming thousands of lives with 7.5K views and 237 likes to date.

It’s encouraging to me that media has become so decentralized that now the gospel has the chance to reach the masses without having to go through the gatekeeping record companies who often water down the salvation part of the gospel message. Sideco, however, is promoting it as central to every music video.

How You Can Use This Platform: View new technologies (AI, VR, NFTs, Roblox, Xbox, etc.) not just as entertainment, but as powerful, emerging platforms. Is God calling you? Ask yourself how your job—or even your hobby—in tech or media can be used to create art, products, or messaging that reflect God's truth and goodness

V. Harnessing Mass Digital Reach: Worship Through Proclamation

In a world desperate for meaning, using our digital platforms to share hope is a powerful act of proclamation. I am sharing the gospel on TikTok. This is worship through proclamation. TikTok is a platform with instantaneous, global reach. Utilizing short-form testimonial videos, I deliver gospel messages, devotionals, and scripture teaching directly to a massive, diverse audience that may never step inside a church building. This is evangelism at a scale the Church has never known, leveraging the creator economy for Kingdom purposes.

The content that really takes off is actually the Christ-centered videos. One video that has 5,000 views now is about how to use the Word of God to defeat your own thoughts, which the Bible says is continuously evil all the time (Gen. 6:5). Instead, rely on God’s Word which states that you are beloved, and He has died for you on the cross. Another video with 3,000 views talks about how the motivation to pursue business actually stems from a heart to serve others, not to glorify the self because frankly that’s just unsatisfying.

It’s only been three months since this channel was started, but to see the thirst and the openness that people have for the gospel has been nothing short of a miracle. Just those two videos combined have 1,039 likes and 182 saves. I encourage us all to hear from the Lord and use His teaching that ministered to us, to minister to others.

How You Can Use This Platform: Identify the digital platform where you naturally spend time (TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, or a podcast) and start putting out content and weave your faith into the high-value content you share there. Your digital feed can be your mission field.

“Say not ye, ‘There are yet four months and then cometh harvest’? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35, KJV)

Conclusion: A Seamless Life of Purpose

Ultimately, linking your faith to your daily life means erasing the false boundary between Sunday and Monday. Your job is a beautiful extension of your calling. Those who don’t obey are missing abundant blessings as God will pour into you to bless others. That’s how the Holy Spirit works. Your intercessory prayers for others often work much better than your own prayers for yourself. He wants to bless others through us.

Your specific skill is your offering. Your colleagues are your mission field. Your daily integrity is your witness. Your entire vocation is a powerful, strategic platform for God's glory.

We all know the Parable of the Talents. The ones who multiplied them were commended, but the one who hid it because of fear was scolded. Let’s not stay stagnant in our faith and only relegate God to one area of our lives, Sunday church service. Let's give Him all areas including our vocation, our hobby, and even our social media feed.

Also, be encouraged if now is not the right time. Not all of us are ready for our calling. It may take some time. The reality is that even Moses, the “most humble man on earth,” had to wait until he was 80 to lead God’s people out of slavery. And if you’ve tried but given up, don’t worry. He has a plan to bring you back to the fold. Take it from me. I was in Christian media for 8 years, and then had to leave and was bitterly upset about “losing my purpose” from God. But after 12 years, He has brought me back to this place of writing and speaking His Word. Praise God that He knows me so well.

Final Challenge: You, too, can eagerly desire a vocational ministry opportunity. Embrace that your current work can be worship, and in God’s hands, can multiply His Spirit in others. Commit today to viewing Monday through Saturday as a God-given platform for promoting His kingdom to come.

For Thine, Lord God, is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

---

Lilia Tse is a Barnard College graduate, former digital media professional, and former cofounder of Adfire Health. A stay-at-home mom, TikTok creator, and faith leader—including youth leader of Gospel Camp and President of Word of Life Bangladesh—she shares the gospel of Christ and inspires meaningful connections through digital media.

You can follow Lilia on TikTok : @liliatse157