Called To Increase

“Thank God it’s Monday!”

That’s something I’ve never heard or seen on a bumper sticker. Why? Because we have a tendency to view work as drudgery, irritation, or a necessary evil. But that’s not God’s view of work at all.

Since the beginning of creation, work was God’s idea. Mankind was designed to take dominion over all that God put on the earth, subduing the animals and utilizing the seed-bearing plants for food. This required work. It was only after sin entered into man that work became a matter of sweat and toiling. The productivity God intended never changed, though the cost increased for the laborer.

As we allow the rule and reign of heaven to grow in our lives, the natural result is that our work becomes more productive. Kingdom living is designed to create, improve, and flourish. This extends to our work, which is why we must view it through the lens of obedience, calling, and purpose.

In one of Christ’s parables explaining the kingdom of heaven, He spoke of three servants who were given different amounts money to manage. Two of the three invested and increased what they were given. The third buried his in the ground to keep it safe. When the master inquired, he praised the two who had been productive with their portions. But the one who had no increase was excoriated and called wicked and lazy.

Two critical truths in this parable stand out. First, the wicked servant didn’t squander or lose what he was given. He guarded it and safely returned it to his master. Sounds pretty good, right? And that’s the point: it’s not about merely keeping what we have. Harkening back to the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were not instructed to take good care of themselves and be happy. They were instructed to “be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth…” (Genesis 1:28, NIV). God calls us beyond merely maintaining what we have been given. We are called to increase.

Second, it’s interesting to note that the three servants were given different amounts. It would have made sense to say, “Three servants were given ten dollars each. One increased it to twenty and he was praised the most. Another increased it to fifteen and he was praised a little less. The other had no increase, so he failed at his job.” But that wasn’t the case. The first two doubled what they had, though what they had was different. It is easy to fall into the trap that our work doesn’t matter as much as others’. The position may be low in rank, the occupation may be insignificant compared to others, or our work may not have a salary attached to it, whether in the home or in retirement. But that’s not God’s economy. His is one where you are given something and expected to use it to benefit and expand His kingdom. When we do so, God says, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:23).

At the heart of biblical productivity is the concept of work as a calling. Work is not merely a means to an end—earning money or status—but a divine vocation. The idea that every kind of honest work, whether big or small, can be performed “as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23) transforms work from a tedious necessity into a meaningful act of spiritual service. When we see our labor as valuable in the eyes of God, we will work with more diligence, enthusiasm, and care. This divine motivation to do our best naturally leads to more productivity.

This concept of productivity extends beyond financial responsibilities. In Christ’s parable of the farmer planting seeds, He said, “The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:23).

Whatever we are given, whether tangible or intangible, we are expected to increase. We do this because it reflects the productive nature of God’s kingdom, which Jesus also explained:

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Matthew 13:31-33)

When we begin to see work, whether internal spiritual growth or external mental and physical labor, as a matter of divine calling and a test of stewardship and accountability, we discover the profound meaning behind an otherwise tedious and unpleasant task. It infuses everything we do, transforming our attitude and influence. The fruit of such labor is growth that is visible and impactful. It changes us, our families, and our communities.

As you begin each workday (even Mondays!), consider the warning and promise behind this kingdom truth: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them” (Matthew 25:29). Do not bury what God has entrusted to you. That won’t keep it safe – you will only lose it. Instead, diligently apply yourself in whatever position, whether high or low, and in every task, whether visible or unseen. When you increase in productivity, you will increase in blessing.