Colossians 3:22
Servants, do what you’re told by
your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you
by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God,
confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your
inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving
is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held
responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
My
friend Shelton said the other day, “You are not wasting your retirement
time, Deb…I am envious.” Shelton still runs a printing business…and he
does plenty in his “off hours” to see after his mother and several
other family members and friends. But it made me think about what we do
with our time. And I was once again reminded that every second belongs
to God…and even the most mundane of “chores” deserve our best work.
I
have said often that when I was teaching kindergarten, I wish that I
had better realized how holy that work was…how important it was to be a
light for Christ every minute of the day to each one of those precious
children. I know that I did my best at the time. But as my
relationship with Jesus has deepened over the years, I realize how much
more I could have done. Don’t let this be said of you!
In
everything you do, give your all. Do not allow yourself to “get by”
with shoddy work. Recognize that everything you do to keep your
household afloat – from shopping to cooking, cleaning and laundry – is
serving not only yourself and your family – but God, as well. Whatever
your “paid position” may be…work as if God Himself were paying you -
because ultimately, He is.
Regardless of what you do with your
day, do it to the glory of God. Even when you rest, remember that you
are storing up energy to be able to serve God better afterward. One
section of this passage really resonated with me…“The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.”
Remember
that as a faith-filled Christian, you are a representative of Jesus
Christ…always, and in all ways. Do your best to continually give Him
“good work” and a joyful attitude - filled with gratitude for His
blessings, humility for the privilege of serving Him, and confidence
that He is using you to make a difference. Examine your “work” and make
sure it is never shoddy…and give God the glory for all that He is able
to accomplish because of your faithfulness.
©2015 Debbie Robus
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