Work at it

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ  you are serving..  — Colossians 3:23-24

This has been probably my most often quoted verse of the Bible.  I make my best effort to do this every day.  I spent Black Friday cleaning out my gutters and taking care of my leaf problem.  I didn’t really want to do it.  So, I brought this verse to mind and tried to work like I was working for Him.  3 hours went by in a flash.  It felt so good to accomplish so much.  When I was done, I wasn’t even tired.  I had just spent 3 amazing hours with the Lord continually on my mind.

The reason I write about this verse again is because of the line “you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.”  I always thought this verse meant that if I reluctantly did the things that I didn’t want to do, but had to do, then I would receive a great reward in Heaven.  Well, what I am discovering is that the inheritance is Him.  If I can figure out how to constantly work, play, or whatever it is that I am doing, if I can keep Him in my mind and do it all like I am doing it for Him, then I will not only get it done and get it done better, I will enjoy it.  This has been a fantastic revelation that has brought truckloads of peace into my heart.

I think back over my work career.  I worked at a golf course as a “cart boy” for 7 years.  I loved that job, but it never crossed my mind that I needed to work that job as unto the Lord.  When I was 22, I became a math teacher.  For about 6 years I did it, but did not really enjoy it.  Once again, the thought had never crossed my mind to teach like I’m working for the Lord.  I was one of those “minimum requirement” guys.  I was going to do the least I could possibly get by with.  Then, I read Colossians 3:23.  This was the first time I had ever thought about my attitude towards my job.  In light of this verse, my attitude was awful…I had to change.  I spent the next 10 years actually learning what it meant and what it took to be a teacher.  More specifically, a teacher working “as unto the Lord.”  I can honestly say it has been the best 10 years of my life.  God has already rewarded me greatly.

I say all that to say this.  I don’t know what 2014 holds for me.  The Lord is opening some doors that I never in a million years thought would possibly open for me.  Please pray for me as I simply strive to live day by day the very best that I can.  Today, I am supposed to relax, rest, write this WMD, and spend time with my family and my God.  Tomorrow, I am to go to school and be the best teacher and the best influence I can possibly be in the lives of my students.  Keeping this approach just makes life simple.  I like simple.

I don’t really know why the Lord had me type this up.  Maybe there is a few of you out there who are reading this and are miserable at work.  Take a few moments to think about what it would look like to do what you have to do for the Lord.  What would you have to do different?  What would you have to start doing?  What would you have to stop doing?  Consider everything you can possibly bring to mind, maybe even write those ideas down.

Whatever that something is that you do…put your heart into it.  Work at it as if God Himself is watching every minute detail.  Enjoy having Him there with you.  It won’t be long, you will start enjoying what you do.  You will also have people ask if there is something wrong with you.  After all, nobody is supposed to be happy at work.  It is then that your very purpose in life comes to fruition.  You get to tell them about how the Lord changed your heart and life, and how you are simply trying to do what it is you do for Him.

If you say you are a Christian, it is the Lord Christ you are serving at whatever it is that you do.  Whether at school or at work, may you and I both do our jobs to the best of our ability.  May there be no other person who puts more of their heart in what we do than you or I…regardless of the behavior of others.

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord, He is God:

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.

We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.  — Psalm 100:2-3

Later

Adam