Who do you work for?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.            Colossians 3:23

 
         Have you ever been working on something only to find yourself working just a little bit harder when your boss, a coach, or parent was near?  I have.  I remember in football practice that I usually performed at my peak when my coaches were around.  I so wanted to impress them that I’d tackle a little harder, run a little faster, throw a little farther.  Similarly, while doing chores as a child, I would put as little effort as possible until my parents came around.  I’d stack wood quite lazily until my dad came around.  And when he did, I’d break into a sweat, making sure that the stacks were perfect.  Why?  Because I wanted him to find pleasure in my work.  Even more, I wanted him to take pleasure in me. 
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Colossians 3:23 gives us a true challenge of Christian labor.  How do you work?  More importantly, how do you work when no one is watching?  Paul’s admonition carries with it two very important distinctions.  He states, “Whatever you do…”

Work with all your heart.  You and I know the difference between our 80% and our 100%.  Which one brings us greater pleasure?  I can’t speak for everyone, but I feel much better after giving my all.  Working with all of our heart eliminates the dreaded question – “What if…?”  When we work with all of our heart, we can live with no regrets.  Regrets come either when we do the wrong thing, or when we do the right thing halfheartedly. 

Work as unto the Lord.  Who do you work for?  You may work for your employer, do schoolwork for your Teacher, or do chores for your parents, or simply work for yourself, but in the end there is little profit.  But when we work as unto the Lord, we can take comfort in knowing that working for the Lord is eternal.  I wonder how different life would be if everything we did was as unto the Lord.  I know that in those moments where I’m working as unto the Lord, everything seems fuller.  One of the greatest tests of Christian maturity is reaching the point where you do everything as unto the Lord.  One thing we have to learn is that weather you’re working for McDonalds or McDonald Douglas, you can glorify the Lord if you work there for Jesus.  God determines where He wants us; it’s up to us to work there as unto Him.
 
Question of the Day:
Do I treat my work as unto the Lord?