Beyond Conformity

Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. (NIV)

I spent countless hours searching for a senior quote for the yearbook. Not wanting to err on such important words that would be published next to my name and be a reflection of myself, utmost perfection was stressed.

I went through many drafts of ideas trying to communicate my goals. Through all the pages that kept piling on top of one another, this one verse kept drawing me back. It captured everything I wanted to say: In whatever job I chose, I must do it with all my heart as work for the Lord and not for man.

As a writer who enjoys writing for the secular world, I frequently return to this verse to hold me accountable.

The writing market is incredibly tough. It demands writers to conform to its desires. The pressure is turned on.

Is it?

If my goal is switched from honoring God to getting noticed and making money, how easy it becomes to slip into the mindset that I must write a certain way, even if it’s below my standards. Sometimes the change of focus is so slight, you might not even notice.

My challenge to you is to examine your goals for writing. First and foremost, your form of writing should be about glorifying God. Not about anything else. If your stories, poetry or songs don’t honor God, no matter how good they are, toss them. I can’t tell you how many of my short stories have been deleted because I realized at their end that they were more about my own glorification. Believe me, it wasn’t a waste. As a result of this purging, writing has become one of my greatest acts of worship.

Keep in mind that if no one else reads a word you’ve written, if your work done with all your heart as word for the Lord, then it’s not in vein.

Dear God, help me not to get swayed by the visions of greatness the world dangles in front of me. I don’t want to change what I believe to conform to that standard. In the end, may my writing be an act of worship to you.