Over time , as Anders has meditated on many of the truths we covered in part 1 of this book , she has come to embrace her work as a hairstylist as just as legitimate a ministry as the work she did in Asia . What she once viewed as vain , she fervently declares is not in vain in God ’ s eyes : “ It ’ s kingdom work ,” she says .
How so ? For starters , she leverages her work to the instrumental end of carrying out the Great Commission . “ We get to share God ’ s heart with our clients all the time ,” she says , and “ give 10 % of our profits ” to missions .
But Anders , like you , now sees the intrinsic value of her work as well : “ My work within itself can be a means of reflecting redemption — reflecting God ’ s original intent . Even the work of styling hair can bring God eternal pleasure .”
The Smile of God is the Goal of Your Life
Our work has intrinsic , eternal value even when we aren ’ t leveraging our jobs to the instrumental end of evangelism . That truth allowed us to dismantle the unbiblical hierarchy that elevates the work of pastors and other religious professionals above the work most of us mere Christians do as small-business owners , firefighters , or social workers .
But if we ’ re not careful , another hierarchy can slip into our thinking : We can end up elevating the work of Christians most clearly “ changing the world ” above the work of those of us who are simply sustaining and serving it . Prosecuting human traffickers matters , but not selling insurance . Curing disease matters , but not waiting tables . Teaching kids matters , but not styling hair . I mean , come on . Can the work of a cosmetologist really “ bring God eternal pleasure ” when the world is going to hell in a handbasket ?
Given our culture ’ s obsession with utility and function , our first instinct may be to say no . As Makoto Fujimura has pointed out , the modern church “ has been undermined by the utilitarian
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