We all have, had, or will have a job. We need jobs to earn an income so that we can support ourselves or our families. We work to make a living. We work to be productive in society. But often, work isn’t easy. We don’t always enjoy going to work. Some times we’d rather just stay home or go fishing. Many times we can find ourselves just working to make a paycheck and going about it in a zombified, uninterested fashion. We may not always like our boss. We’d rather work for ourselves. So we go through the motions of work to make the boss happy but never really put much effort into it with the right attitude. How do you view your job? How do you go about doing your work?
Here is something very important that we need to remember and put into practice out in the workforce. As followers of Christ, we have to have a different mindset about work. God has called us to live and think differently than the world. This applies to our jobs. Learn from what Paul said in Colossians 3:22-25…
“Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.”
Our real boss is Jesus. As we work for different employers we have to remember that we really answer to Christ for the way we work. We are to obey our boss even if we don’t like the work or them. We are not to just act like we are working when the boss is around but then slack off when he is not around. Our efforts are to be sincere. Fearing God. Knowing that God sees us working and holds us accountable. We are to work with energy. Effort. Motivation. Even excitement. We are working for the Lord and not men. When we see our boss we need to see Jesus. Our true reward will come from the Lord. An eternal reward instead of a temporary paycheck. But we’re also told that if we don’t work as we’re supposed to then we will be punished for our wrong.
How are you working today? How are you going to work from now on? Nobody said it’s going to be easy. But this is what God has called us to do. It is a choice. So choose to find ways to enjoy your work whatever it may be and find ways to praise and thank God in it. Let’s be sincere and committed to getting the job done. Serve the Lord in your work.
A Cord of Blue 