Quotes on Work & Vocation

Christian quotes on Work & Vocation — with author, dates and source, from two millennia of Christian thought.

God has not called us to success, only to faithfulness.

Mother Teresa

Jenny, God has made me for a purpose – for China; but He has also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure

Eric Liddell

The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees.

Brother Lawrence

Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

The bow cannot be always bent without fear of breaking. Repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body… Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It may be that the Last Day will dawn tomorrow; if so, we will gladly lay down our work for a better future, but not before.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

If our identity is in our work, rather than Christ, success will go to our heads, and failure will go to our hearts.

Tim Keller

Our Lord's example is our example, not only on Calvary but in the workshop, on the road, in the crowd, amid interruptions, amid opposition, amid the lack of quiet and privacy, amid constant demands.

C.S. Lewis

Since God has given me a cheerful heart, he will surely forgive me for serving him cheerfully.

Joseph Haydn

Remember that God is among the pots and pans, and that he is at your side in inward and outward tasks.

Teresa of Ávila

The person who does not have God while mucking out the stable does not have him during choir prayer either.

Meister Eckhart

Great opportunities to serve God are rare, but small ones are frequent.

Francis de Sales

In my opinion I am rich as Croesus—not in money, but rich because I have found something in my work to which I can devote myself with heart and soul, and which inspires me and gives meaning to my life.

Vincent van Gogh

Jesus also lets his people rest: in spring they may sit in the sun without constantly having spiritual thoughts.

Helmut Thielicke

It is always a comfort to me that almost all the stories in which people become entangled with Christ happen on sober weekdays.

Helmut Thielicke

God wants to speak to us at work as clearly as he does in worship. You may go days without thinking of him, but there is not a moment when he is not thinking of you.

Max Lucado

My first morning hour belongs to the Lord. The work he assigns me, I want to take up, and he will give me the strength to accomplish it. I take what comes and only ask that I be given the abilities needed for it.

Edith Stein

I know of no one but God who rewards his servants as much for the good intentions of their hearts as for the finished work of their hands.

Ronald Dunn

Everyone is called to do something or to be something for which no one else is called.

John Henry Newman

The person we are becoming is more important to God than the work we do.

Dallas Willard

I have always been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted; then I realized that the interruptions were my work.

Henri Nouwen

We can’t overcome workaholism if we love money and status too much. We can’t overcome bitterness or slander if we love our reputation too much. It is not just willpower but a reordering of our desires that will bring wisdom.

Tim Keller

It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God; but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things.

Oswald Chambers

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.

Augustine of Hippo

Pray as though no work would help, and work as though no prayer would help.

Martin Luther

We plough and we scatter the seed upon the land; yet growth and thriving lie in heaven's hand.

Matthias Claudius

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

Francis of Assisi

Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

Howard Thurman

Read and listen to one thinker and you become a clone; Read two and you become confused; Read ten and you get your own voice; Read a hundred and you start to become wise.

Tim Keller

If you have little to do, pray for an hour; if you have much to do, pray for two hours.

Martin Luther

We will not be rewarded for our performance, but for our faithfulness.

Corrie ten Boom

God does not look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done.

Teresa of Ávila

Sing, pray, and walk in God's ways, faithfully do your own part, and trust in heaven's rich blessing, so it will be renewed for you; for whoever sets his trust on God, him he will not forsake.

Georg Neumark

We should prepare the sermon as though everything depended on us alone, and then trust the Holy Spirit, knowing that everything depends on him alone.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter.

Francis Chan

If the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy.

Jim Burns

God is milking the cows through the vocation of the milkmaid.

Martin Luther

I am tired in the Lord’s work, but not tired of it.

George Whitefield

We are immortal until our work on earth is done.

George Whitefield

The Ten Commandments contain no commandment to work, but a commandment to rest from work. That is the reversal of what we are accustomed to think.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

People quoted here

Mother Teresa, Eric Liddell, Brother Lawrence, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Tim Keller, C.S. Lewis, Joseph Haydn, Teresa of Ávila, Meister Eckhart, Francis de Sales, Vincent van Gogh

Related

God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit, Grace & Redemption, The Bible & the Word of God, Doubt & Hard Questions, Suffering & the Question of God, Eternity & Hope Beyond Death, Fear & Anxiety, Grief & Comfort, Illness & Weakness, Loneliness & Abandonment, Meaning & Identity, Time & Transience, Money & Possessions, Faith & Trust, Hope & Confidence, Joy & Gratitude, Peace & Rest, Humility & Pride, Patience & Waiting, Courage & Strength, Wisdom & Understanding, Freedom & Truth, Love, Relationships & Family, Guilt & Forgiveness, Service & Love of Neighbour, Justice & Commitment, Ethical Questions, Church & Congregation, Witness & Mission, Prayer & Silence, Discipleship, Growth & Character, Temptation & Struggle, Guidance & God's Will

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