"Working" For A Living

Most of us have worked in environments where there are certain people who "get things done" and others who "skate by". We know who we can give work to and who to avoid giving any responsibility to. It always seems to be that the better you are at your job, the more tasks you'll be given. The opposite is true as well, if you're not getting things done correctly, they won't put it on your lap. I recently spoke to a friend of mine who told me that early on in his current job someone asked him to do something and he purposely botched it. He is no longer asked by this person to do anything. 

I try to look at work through a different lens, through that of a Christ follower, a Christian. When I went through difficult times at my previous job, I came across a verse in the Bible that changed my life. In Ephesians 6:7 Paul says, "Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than people." Enthusiasm?!? Not so easy when you feel as though you're working a lot harder than most of the others. It can be very frustrating walking into your job when some co-workers are on their 3rd lunch or when some, upon knowing the boss is here, start performing instead of working (you know the type). How about the one that has the watch that seems to be running 15 minutes late everyday or the one caught in traffic, everyday. WAKE UP EARLIER! We often think others are 'getting away with something'. (In the long run, they're not getting away with anything). 

I found in this time that when I worked 'with enthusiasm' and 'as though God was my boss', it all changed. I was more fulfilled. I got more done. The day went by faster. 

For Christians reading this, when you work for God with enthusiasm, it comes with great results:

• It points to Christ. People want to know why you work so hard and have such a good attitude. 
• It can change a toxic atmosphere. So many of us get up and quit these tough environments. What if God truly had you here for a reason?
• There are rewards. Sometimes they're few and far between. Sometimes they don't come fast enough. The reward of putting in an honest day really does feel great. 

The norm here in our country seems to be to complain and gripe about our jobs, to do as little as we can and get paid the most. Scripture communicates almost the opposite. We are to do our very best all the time. 

In the end, God isn't going to say, "Well planned, good and faithful servant." He won't say, "well thought, well said, or well strategized either." There is one commendation. "Well done good and faithful servant."

Are you working enthusiastically for the Lord? Or as Colossians 3:23 says, "as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people?"