---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Christian work our initiative and…"
description: "\"In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/oswald-chambers-205_achieve_in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-mot_2070956.jpg"
---

#  In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too…

![“In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.” quote by Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/oswald-chambers-205_achieve_in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-mot_2070956.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/oswald-chambers-205_achieve_in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-mot_2070956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/oswald-chambers-205_achieve_in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-mot_2070956.jpg)

> “In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.”

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Spiritual vigor requires seeking Christ’s presence, not merely responding to tasks; true motivation is divine, not self‑driven.

**In simple terms:** Seek Christ, not just work.

Key Takeaway

Align actions with spiritual purpose.

Themes

spirituality motivation purpose service

Mood

inspirational contemplative

Type

theological motivational

When to use this quote

- volunteer work
- daily chores
- missionary work
- personal prayer

Key Concepts

divine purpose sanctified living

Questions to Reflect On

- What tasks feel like a calling versus a duty?
- How can you invite divine purpose into routine?

A Different Perspective

Human effort alone can feel empty without faith.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-work/) [Initiative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/initiative/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Work to be done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-to-be-done/)

## Related quotes

> [We all want to feel spiritually vigorous, and we hurt when we don't. This pain is intensified for people who lead church ministries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/we-all-want-to-feel-spiritually-vigorous-and-we-hurt-when-we-don-t/)

[John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/)

> [My deepest impulses are optimistic; an attitude that seems to me as spiritually necessary and proper as it is intellectually suspect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/my-deepest-impulses-are-optimistic-an-attitude-that-seems-to-me-as/)

[Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/)

> [The tech community has taken the first step by recognizing that diversity is a strength and realizing that many of them have to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/the-tech-community-has-taken-the-first-step-by-recognizing-that/)

[Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/)

> [“The true test of a saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-true-test-of-a-saint-s-life-is-not-successfulness-but/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-tend-to-set-up-success-in-christian-work-as-our-purpose-but-our/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [One of the most difficult questions to answer in Christian work is, 'What do you expect to do?' You don't know what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/one-of-the-most-difficult-questions-to-answer-in-christian-work-is/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The test of the life of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is. We will set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-test-of-the-life-of-a-saint-is-not-success-but-faithfulness-in/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service to Him. It is never 'Do, do' with the Lord, but 'Be, be' and He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-greatest-competitor-of-devotion-to-jesus-is-service-to-him-it-is/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him. A great number of Christian workers worship their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/beware-of-any-work-for-god-that-causes-or-allows-you-to-avoid-2/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him. A great number of Christian workers worship their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/beware-of-any-work-for-god-that-causes-or-allows-you-to-avoid/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The only Christian work is good work, well done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-only-christian-work-is-good-work-well-done/)

[Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/)

> [A church in the land without the Spirit is rather a curse than a blessing. If you have not the Spirit of God, Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/a-church-in-the-land-without-the-spirit-is-rather-a-curse-than-a/)

[Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/)

> [“As Christian workers have understood that the gospel can be translated into various cultural forms and that all of the “Pillars of Islam” (except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-greenlee/as-christian-workers-have-understood-that-the-gospel-can-be/)

David H. Greenlee

> [Yes, would to God that I could persuade the rich and the mighty that they would permit the whole Bible to be painted on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/yes-would-to-god-that-i-could-persuade-the-rich-and-the-mighty-that/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [You don't have to be a Christian to work at Chick-fil-A, but we ask you to base your business on biblical principles because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-christian-to-work-at-chick-fil-a-but-we-ask/)

[S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/)

## More by Oswald Chambers

> [“If we deliberately choose to obey God, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-we-deliberately-choose-to-obey-god-then-he-will-tax-the-remotest/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/realize-that-the-lord-is-here-now-and-the-freedom-you-receive-is/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/you-will-never-cease-to-be-the-most-amazed-person-on-earth-at-what/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [When Jesus Christ shed his blood on the cross, it was not the blood of a martyr; or the blood of one man for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/when-jesus-christ-shed-his-blood-on-the-cross-it-was-not-the-blood-of/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/sorrow-burns-up-a-great-amount-of-shallowness/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“Let circumstances take you where they will, but keep drawing on the grace of God in whatever condition you may find yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/let-circumstances-take-you-where-they-will-but-keep-drawing-on-the/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [We are in danger of forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-are-in-danger-of-forgetting-that-we-cannot-do-what-god-does-and/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God's children starving while actually seated at the Father's table.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/it-is-a-solemn-thing-and-no-small-scandal-in-the-kingdom-to-see-god-s/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [“My spiritual history must have as its underlying foundation a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ. To be born again means that I see Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/my-spiritual-history-must-have-as-its-underlying-foundation-a/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [We always have visions, before a thing is made real. When we realize that although the vision is real, it is not real in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/we-always-have-visions-before-a-thing-is-made-real-when-we-realize/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-lasting-value-of-our-public-service-for-god-is-measured-by-the/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-thing-that-awakens-the-deepest-fountain-of-gratitude-in-a-human/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

> [The secret of the missionary is...I am His, and He is carrying out His work through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-secret-of-the-missionary-is-i-am-his-and-he-is-carrying-out-his/)

[Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

[Explore all 922 Oswald Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/)

## More Achieve quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/)

[Daniel H. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-h-pink/)

> [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/)

[Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [I'm a film guy. I love it. When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/)

Deon Taylor

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/)

[Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/)

> [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power &amp; movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/)

[John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/)

> [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/)

[Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/)

> [I've identified as bisexual since I was a teenager, and if we want to achieve equality for all in our policies, we need more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-hill/i-ve-identified-as-bisexual-since-i-was-a-teenager-and-if-we-want-to/)

[Katie Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-hill/)

Browse all 6,390 Achieve quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Oswald Chambers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-motivation-are-too-often-simply/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achieve"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-motivation-are-too-often-simply/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/oswald-chambers-205_achieve_in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-mot_2070956.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/oswald-chambers-205_achieve_in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-mot_2070956.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c99/oswald-chambers-205_achieve_in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-mot_2070956.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often simply the result of realizing that there is…” — Oswald Chambers",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Oswald Chambers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In Christian work our initiative and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-motivation-are-too-often-simply/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/in-christian-work-our-initiative-and-motivation-are-too-often-simply/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
