Well Spent

"Work enthusiastically at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."

- St. Paul, Colossians 3:23

"Someone asked me once what I thought my purpose was in life." I told them, "I'm not exactly sure but I do try and leave everything I touch a little better than when I found it."

- My Grandfather

The Apostle Paul is making a "No Bones" statement that the work you and I do on a daily basis is a direct reflection of the God we serve. In other words, people get an idea about the values, the character, the heart of the Jesus we follow by the work we do every day.

It's like Paul is saying that our jobs are our "Garden of Eden," so to speak, and we should work the "land" in a way that honors God.

I told you that we moved my wife's mom, Cookie, into a memory care facility in Iowa. Luann, Candace's sister, is an amazing care-giver for Mom, and last week, while visiting her, Lu said, "Mom, I really like this place." And Mom replied, "Oh yes, I've worked here for a long time." "You have?" Lu responded, "Wow, that's wonderful." Because we all agreed long ago that sometimes it's just better to go with it. "Well," Lu said, "The floors are so shiny. Did you polish them?" Mom said, "Probably… I do everything around here." (Smile) "In fact," she said, "last night I came out of my room and there were cobwebs everywhere. Took me most of the night cleaning up that mess."

Turns out, the night before, the nurses put up Halloween decorations everywhere. So, when Mom came out of her room late that night in her wheelchair and saw cobwebs and spiders everywhere… she went to work. The next day the nurses were all wondering, "What happened to all the Halloween decorations?" Ha! Mom took them all down exclaiming, "This place was such a mess!"

The point is this: Mom has this deep abiding sense of confidence - a peace that sustains her and makes her feel secure, even in a new strange place - because she has chosen a special purpose in that facility. In her mind and heart, she is keeping this facility clean for all the residents. And I think it makes Jesus smile!

If today, you're working a job you do not like… or working for an employer you like even less… try Paul's approach. Make the decision to do the best job that you can do… not for your boss, but for Jesus.

Chances are, the people who work around you will start wondering what in the world is up with you… and they will get a healthy glimpse of the Jesus you follow. AMEN

Pastor Harry

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