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
Showing posts with label shoddy workmanship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoddy workmanship. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 5, 2015
2 Timothy 2:15
Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last week, I bought a sack full of ladies clothing at the thrift store that I thought would be fun to repurpose into “play clothes” for Zola. In other words, at $1 - $2 per garment, I hoped to make some cute, serviceable outfits for her and give old garments a second “life”…but these would not necessarily be “Sunday best.” I didn’t intend to spend hours on these outfits...I wanted to quickly make some wash-and-wear clothing that would be cool and cute for summer.
So I picked out a skirt with a fish print that became a cute pair of capri pants. Another skirt with a “flip-flop” motif became a pair of shorts. A crinkled plaid blouse became a cute little pullover dress. And another tee-shirt adorned with flowers and beading became a dress, also. And I still have a few more garments to refashion.
Even though I meant for these clothes to be “good enough” for the rough play of a rambunctious four-year-old girl…I still could not help myself and my “Type A” personality as I tacked edges and hand-stitched hems. When a couple of seams didn’t line up quite right, I ripped them apart and started over. I knew that probably no one else but me would ever know that those flaws were there…but I knew. And even in something as insignificant as repurposed children’s clothing, I realized that God knew there were flaws and mistakes.
So I did my best to make things right. And in our daily living, we must be ever conscious of doing this, also. We can’t gloss over shoddy work and hope no one notices. We cannot treat others cavalierly and trust that nobody calls us on it. We must not break the law – even if it is to “fudge” on the speed limit by a few miles or to roll through a stop sign – or lie, cheat or steal and hope we don’t get caught. We must remember that God.knows.everything.we.say.and.do! And what matters more than anything is to hear Him whisper, “Well done!”
I say often that someone is always watching. Today, let me reiterate that Someone (God) is ALWAYS watching! How is your workmanship? Are your efforts worthy of His smile of approval? Do you try to skate by with mediocre offerings, crooked seams, and loose threads of all kinds? Do you figure that “good enough” is good enough…that what isn’t noticed doesn’t count?
Let this be the day in which you realize that everything you say and do matters to God. He is watching…examining…making note! Have you given Him reason to say, “Well done!”? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Last week, I bought a sack full of ladies clothing at the thrift store that I thought would be fun to repurpose into “play clothes” for Zola. In other words, at $1 - $2 per garment, I hoped to make some cute, serviceable outfits for her and give old garments a second “life”…but these would not necessarily be “Sunday best.” I didn’t intend to spend hours on these outfits...I wanted to quickly make some wash-and-wear clothing that would be cool and cute for summer.
So I picked out a skirt with a fish print that became a cute pair of capri pants. Another skirt with a “flip-flop” motif became a pair of shorts. A crinkled plaid blouse became a cute little pullover dress. And another tee-shirt adorned with flowers and beading became a dress, also. And I still have a few more garments to refashion.
Even though I meant for these clothes to be “good enough” for the rough play of a rambunctious four-year-old girl…I still could not help myself and my “Type A” personality as I tacked edges and hand-stitched hems. When a couple of seams didn’t line up quite right, I ripped them apart and started over. I knew that probably no one else but me would ever know that those flaws were there…but I knew. And even in something as insignificant as repurposed children’s clothing, I realized that God knew there were flaws and mistakes.
So I did my best to make things right. And in our daily living, we must be ever conscious of doing this, also. We can’t gloss over shoddy work and hope no one notices. We cannot treat others cavalierly and trust that nobody calls us on it. We must not break the law – even if it is to “fudge” on the speed limit by a few miles or to roll through a stop sign – or lie, cheat or steal and hope we don’t get caught. We must remember that God.knows.everything.we.say.and.do! And what matters more than anything is to hear Him whisper, “Well done!”
I say often that someone is always watching. Today, let me reiterate that Someone (God) is ALWAYS watching! How is your workmanship? Are your efforts worthy of His smile of approval? Do you try to skate by with mediocre offerings, crooked seams, and loose threads of all kinds? Do you figure that “good enough” is good enough…that what isn’t noticed doesn’t count?
Let this be the day in which you realize that everything you say and do matters to God. He is watching…examining…making note! Have you given Him reason to say, “Well done!”? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 10, 2014
Colossians 3:22-25
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.
On a recent episode of CBS’ Sunday Morning*, we were introduced to Gabe Sonnier, an elementary school principal in Port Barre, Louisiana. Sonnier appears to be one of the happiest men on the planet. In fact, the reporter said that Sonnier had “the most contagious smile in Cajun Country!” Sonnier said, “That smile just wants to break out…that’s just me!” What makes this story so remarkable is that Gabe Sonnier began his “career in education” 30 years at Port Barre Elementary School with a totally different office…the mop room.
Yes, Sonnier was once the school’s custodian! In 1985, the former principal, Westley Jones, told him, “I would rather see you grading papers than picking them up.” Sonnier took this to heart, and as the reporter told us, “When he wasn’t cleaning classrooms, he was studying in them.” Sonnier now has a Master’s Degree in education…and he even aspires to possibly become the school district’s superintendent someday. He says he thinks he would like that!
The “punctuation mark” to this story is that Gabe Sonnier still cleans his own office. He could easily order the new custodian to do it. But as the reporter noted…“You can take the janitor out of the mop room, but you can’t take the work ethic out of the janitor”…at least not in this case. And therein lies the lesson for all of us. When we are able to find the joy and satisfaction in something as seemingly menial or insignificant as cleaning a floor, we have turned a significant corner. More importantly, when we recognize that even cleaning our office can glorify God, we have discovered a valuable component of Christian discipleship. It’s not that cleaning is so important on its own…it’s about the spirit with which we do it.
So as I clean my house, I thank God that He has given me such a comfortable, beautiful place to live. I honor Him by keeping it neat and clean. When you clean your room – or your car – tell God how much you appreciate Him for providing you with a means of transportation…a safe ride and/or a roof over your head…and more. When you go to school and study, thank God that you are granted the means to learn and grow in wisdom…that He has given you the opportunity to develop and fulfill the potential He has placed within you. When you go to work, give God thanks for providing you with a job. Remember that many would give anything to have employment and a means to support themselves.
If you are retired, thank God for getting you to this point…and ask Him to show you how and where He wants you to serve and honor Him in this phase of your life. Is God calling you to be a good friend and neighbor…a servant in ministry of some sort…a prayer warrior…someone who encourages others with cards and phone calls…a mentor to young people??? Are you fully engaged in honoring God, showing your gratitude - and sharing this appreciativeness with others? Is it clearly evident that you will not be content with shoddy work…that you consider your “performance” in even the smallest task a reflection of your Discipleship and devotion to God?
Your smile may not be as prominent and continual as Gabe Sonnier’s. But we can all find a way to express our joy and gratitude as we perform every single task to the glory of God. We can encourage others and lift their spirits by demonstrating the blessings of doing good work and giving God our very best.
Gabe Sonnier summed up his life’s work with a sentence that he often offers to his students…“It’s not where you start…it’s how you finish.” What will be said of you? What does your daily “work ethic” show others about your faith? Are you content with shoddy work… or are you offering God your very best in every single task? Do others see an example of God’s blessings and glory in your efforts? Isn’t it time they did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/louisiana-principals-remarkable-success-story/
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.
On a recent episode of CBS’ Sunday Morning*, we were introduced to Gabe Sonnier, an elementary school principal in Port Barre, Louisiana. Sonnier appears to be one of the happiest men on the planet. In fact, the reporter said that Sonnier had “the most contagious smile in Cajun Country!” Sonnier said, “That smile just wants to break out…that’s just me!” What makes this story so remarkable is that Gabe Sonnier began his “career in education” 30 years at Port Barre Elementary School with a totally different office…the mop room.
Yes, Sonnier was once the school’s custodian! In 1985, the former principal, Westley Jones, told him, “I would rather see you grading papers than picking them up.” Sonnier took this to heart, and as the reporter told us, “When he wasn’t cleaning classrooms, he was studying in them.” Sonnier now has a Master’s Degree in education…and he even aspires to possibly become the school district’s superintendent someday. He says he thinks he would like that!
The “punctuation mark” to this story is that Gabe Sonnier still cleans his own office. He could easily order the new custodian to do it. But as the reporter noted…“You can take the janitor out of the mop room, but you can’t take the work ethic out of the janitor”…at least not in this case. And therein lies the lesson for all of us. When we are able to find the joy and satisfaction in something as seemingly menial or insignificant as cleaning a floor, we have turned a significant corner. More importantly, when we recognize that even cleaning our office can glorify God, we have discovered a valuable component of Christian discipleship. It’s not that cleaning is so important on its own…it’s about the spirit with which we do it.
So as I clean my house, I thank God that He has given me such a comfortable, beautiful place to live. I honor Him by keeping it neat and clean. When you clean your room – or your car – tell God how much you appreciate Him for providing you with a means of transportation…a safe ride and/or a roof over your head…and more. When you go to school and study, thank God that you are granted the means to learn and grow in wisdom…that He has given you the opportunity to develop and fulfill the potential He has placed within you. When you go to work, give God thanks for providing you with a job. Remember that many would give anything to have employment and a means to support themselves.
If you are retired, thank God for getting you to this point…and ask Him to show you how and where He wants you to serve and honor Him in this phase of your life. Is God calling you to be a good friend and neighbor…a servant in ministry of some sort…a prayer warrior…someone who encourages others with cards and phone calls…a mentor to young people??? Are you fully engaged in honoring God, showing your gratitude - and sharing this appreciativeness with others? Is it clearly evident that you will not be content with shoddy work…that you consider your “performance” in even the smallest task a reflection of your Discipleship and devotion to God?
Your smile may not be as prominent and continual as Gabe Sonnier’s. But we can all find a way to express our joy and gratitude as we perform every single task to the glory of God. We can encourage others and lift their spirits by demonstrating the blessings of doing good work and giving God our very best.
Gabe Sonnier summed up his life’s work with a sentence that he often offers to his students…“It’s not where you start…it’s how you finish.” What will be said of you? What does your daily “work ethic” show others about your faith? Are you content with shoddy work… or are you offering God your very best in every single task? Do others see an example of God’s blessings and glory in your efforts? Isn’t it time they did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/louisiana-principals-remarkable-success-story/
Daily Devotional for November 13, 2013
Colossians 3:22-25
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.
For eighteen years, Greg and I owned a publishing business. Much of that time, we were the sole employees, so we did everything… from answering the phone and taking orders to typesetting and proofreading our magazine every 2 months… to stuffing the magazines in envelopes, sealing, stamping and labeling them for mailing. We were meticulous about every detail, but even so…we sometimes found typos, put the wrong amount of postage on a piece of mail, or inadvertently upset a customer. None of us are perfect!
Over the years, we watched others try to emulate what we were doing. There is an old adage that says that “Imitation is the best form of flattery,” but we were not flattered by many of these projects. The work was often shoddy and riddled with mistakes… and in the end, these businesses didn’t last. We learned very quickly not to waste our energy on fretting about the competition, but rather to do the very best we possibly could…and let our efforts shine and (hopefully) rise to the top. And God blessed our efforts tremendously.
We could probably have worried less about the details and still had at least a mediocre business that paid the bills. But would our reputation have been as strong? Would we have served our clients to the best of our ability? Would a half-hearted effort have honored? In a nutshell, the answer to these questions is a resounding, “NO!”
There are a lot of people in this world who are skating by with minimal efforts. They don’t “cross the T’s and dot the I’s” – in everything from their appearance to the work they do (both at home and in their place of employment) to how they treat their friends, acquaintances and family members. More importantly, many of them are haphazard at best… and downright shoddy in many cases… when it comes to their Christian discipleship… if they even claim to serve God.
You may have an impeccable worth ethic – in all areas of your life. Or you may be lax in a place or two… or even a total slacker! I encourage you to search your heart…and your daily living…and see where you might need to “tighten the screws” a little. Where are you covering up bad work and disrespecting God with your less-than-faultless efforts? Are you doing the minimum… or are you always giving God your very best in all things? The difference matters… both now and for all eternity!
©2013 Debbie Robus
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.
For eighteen years, Greg and I owned a publishing business. Much of that time, we were the sole employees, so we did everything… from answering the phone and taking orders to typesetting and proofreading our magazine every 2 months… to stuffing the magazines in envelopes, sealing, stamping and labeling them for mailing. We were meticulous about every detail, but even so…we sometimes found typos, put the wrong amount of postage on a piece of mail, or inadvertently upset a customer. None of us are perfect!
Over the years, we watched others try to emulate what we were doing. There is an old adage that says that “Imitation is the best form of flattery,” but we were not flattered by many of these projects. The work was often shoddy and riddled with mistakes… and in the end, these businesses didn’t last. We learned very quickly not to waste our energy on fretting about the competition, but rather to do the very best we possibly could…and let our efforts shine and (hopefully) rise to the top. And God blessed our efforts tremendously.
We could probably have worried less about the details and still had at least a mediocre business that paid the bills. But would our reputation have been as strong? Would we have served our clients to the best of our ability? Would a half-hearted effort have honored? In a nutshell, the answer to these questions is a resounding, “NO!”
There are a lot of people in this world who are skating by with minimal efforts. They don’t “cross the T’s and dot the I’s” – in everything from their appearance to the work they do (both at home and in their place of employment) to how they treat their friends, acquaintances and family members. More importantly, many of them are haphazard at best… and downright shoddy in many cases… when it comes to their Christian discipleship… if they even claim to serve God.
You may have an impeccable worth ethic – in all areas of your life. Or you may be lax in a place or two… or even a total slacker! I encourage you to search your heart…and your daily living…and see where you might need to “tighten the screws” a little. Where are you covering up bad work and disrespecting God with your less-than-faultless efforts? Are you doing the minimum… or are you always giving God your very best in all things? The difference matters… both now and for all eternity!
©2013 Debbie Robus
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