Redeeming Our Time for God’s Glory

jordanmuck
Aug 11
3 min read

We live in a culture that loves compartments. Work goes in one box, home in another. Church is another container still, often with a tightly sealed lid so that nothing spills over. While this may seem organized, Scripture never calls us to live a “partitioned” life - it calls us to a whole-life obedience to Christ.

When we keep separate to-do lists - one for work and one for home - we may unintentionally reinforce a false divide between the sacred and the secular. This separation can lead to dangerous thinking: that God cares more about the ministry meeting than the meal prep, or more about the office project than the bedtime story.

Paul confronts this mindset in Colossians 3:17:

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Notice the word everything. Paul does not give categories. Mowing the lawn and preaching a sermon. Filing taxes and sharing the gospel. All of it is to be done for Jesus.

The Pitfalls of a Divided Life

Neglect of God’s Call in the Ordinary - When we split our lives into “work” and “home” lists, we often rank one above the other. The result? We neglect the smaller, quieter obediences that God delights in. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for tithing mint and cumin but neglecting the weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23) - not because the mint didn’t matter, but because both did.
Unrealistic Expectations and Burnout - Two lists often mean two masters. One demands your professional output, the other demands your personal attention. But Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). If our lists become competing kingdoms, we will burn out trying to keep them both happy.
A Fractured Witness - Compartmentalization can make us inconsistent. At work, we may operate with diligence and integrity, but at home we let things slide - or vice versa. A merged list forces us to see that faithfulness in both realms reflects the same Lord we serve.

A Biblical Model for One List

Nehemiah offers a powerful example. He was rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall (a civic and “work” task) while also leading the people in spiritual renewal (a “home” or “ministry” task). In Nehemiah 4:17, the workers carried building tools in one hand and weapons in the other - ready to defend God’s people and finish God’s work in the same moment. For Nehemiah, there was no division between his civic duty and his spiritual calling; both were expressions of obedience to the same God.

Similarly, in Acts 6, the apostles addressed a practical food distribution problem and devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word. The needs were different, but both belonged on the same list of Kingdom priorities.

Practical Steps Toward a Unified List

Write one master to-do list - Instead of “work” and “home” columns, keep a single list with everything together. This reflects the reality that every task is done before the face of God (Coram Deo).
Pray through the list daily - Commit both the email reply and the family devotion to the Lord in prayer (Proverbs 16:3).
Ask Kingdom questions of every task:
- How can this glorify Christ?
- How does this serve my neighbor?
- How does this reflect God’s character?

The Goal: Integration, Not Addition

A unified to-do list does not mean more to do; it means living as if Christ is Lord over all you do. Whether you are cleaning the kitchen or closing a business deal, shepherding a child’s heart or leading a meeting, every line on your list belongs to the same mission: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

The Lordship of Christ means there is no “off the clock” for obedience. There is no spreadsheet He ignores, no sink of dishes He overlooks. There is only one life, one Lord, and one list.

So, take your work and home tasks, merge them, pray over them, and let them remind you that the God who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6) - in the office, in the living room, and everywhere in between.

Reflection

What tasks on my current “work” list could I approach as acts of worship?
What “home” responsibilities have I unintentionally treated as less important to God?
How would my schedule change if I believed Christ was LORD over every item on my list?
Do I need to repent of compartmentalizing my life and invite God to rule over all of it?