Thursday, September 17, 2009

Excellence: The Only Way to Live

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men" (Colossians 3:23)

How many times have you ever heard someone say, "I hate my job!" speaking of their employment situation? Unhappiness in the work place seems to abound today, beloved, and because of it lives seem full of resentment and anger. It is difficult to maintain a positive and effective work-ethic whenever we feel in such a way about the work to which we have been called.

So what can we do to change such an attitude back to that which is honoring to the Lord and productive in its final result? The Apostle Paul in writing to the saints in Colossae gave a clear call to believers everywhere to focus their energy, especially in the work place, on their relationship with Jesus Christ rather than upon how an employer might be treating them at any particular point in time. Paul first called upon us as Christians to forget about doing what we do each day just to please men, here our employers. Once a worker has lost respect for his employer for any reason whatsoever, it is difficult to find motivation to "work heartily."

The apostle's command, however, was that we as believers focus our attention in the work place upon "the Lord" instead of upon men. Instead of trying to impress employers or fellow workers, we should focus rather upon pleasing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Such an attitude recognizes that our work situation, whatever it may be, is all part of God's plan for kingdom growth. He has us where He has us in order to use us as instruments of His grace in the lives of those around us! Thus, to "work heartily as for the Lord" is not only to recognize that unique calling and placement, beloved, but it is to accept it fully and to give allegiance to Jesus Christ in how we do what we do where we have been placed by Him.

Would you be an effective witness for Jesus Christ, child of God? Then begin by focusing upon the establishing of "excellence" in the way that you do your job! Let Jesus Christ be your motivation for going to work every day. Let your role in the building of the kingdom of God spur you on to give 100% in the expending of your energy. Let your love for and burden for the souls of men and women who do not know Christ inspire you to a level of visible "excellence" that will draw them to ask about "the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15).

EXCELLENCE! It really is the only way to live, beloved! What level of living are you demonstrating as a Christian right now to those who know you and especially to those who may work alongside you?

Ron