What is our attitude towards work? How do we approach our work or job each morning? With thankfulness or grumpiness? With diligence or laziness? Our answer will show whether we see work through the eyes of the Bible, or with the attitude that it is merely a way to make a living. If work is nothing more for us than a way to earn money, we will most likely go to work feeling tired. We will complain, feeling as if our work is imposed on us.
But the Bible teaches us that working is a valid part of life. We are to be the salt and light of our society, not only through evangelism and living testimonies, but also as we take a role in building our society.
In these verses Paul states an important principle to help us relate correctly to our jobs: we serve God not people, and this is true in our secular jobs as much as in anything else we do.
And what will be our reward? We should not be living just for a salary, but for the reward God has for us. Applying this perspective to our work will help us to do everything "from the heart"; we will work with all faithfulness and sincerity. Then God will reward not only us, but our bosses as well (through our hard work).
Remember Daniel? While he was in exile, he found himself in difficult circumstances with much opposition. "Daniel soon showed that he could do better work than the other supervisors or the governors. Because he was so outstanding, the king considered putting him in charge of the whole empire. Then the other supervisors and the governors tried to find something wrong with the way Daniel administered the empire, but they couldn't, because Daniel was reliable and did not do anything wrong or dishonest." (Daniel 6:3-4)
This is quite a challenge, and we will need the power of the Holy Spirit to help us, especially if our work atmosphere is difficult. But God gives us the strength. Let us be a testimony to those around us through perseverance, faithfulness, and bearing responsibility. Let us excel in our work, jobs, and studies. Let us do everything-yes, everything-not for people, but for the Lord.
- 4 MARCH -