Most of us spend much of our lifetime at “work.” Whether this means clocking in at the job site, getting to the office for that big meeting at 8:00AM, or working at home on your computer to meet a deadline, it can all be deposited into a big mass of time and effort we call “work.”
On the far right side of the pendulum there are those who love their work and it defines who they are. They can become addicted to their jobs and neglect other areas in their lives, such as relationships, personal devotion, and physical health. There is stress and pressure to perform to keep up one’s image because it consumes their identity. I also know those on the far left side of the pendulum who hate their jobs. They do the bare minimum that is required of them and see little to no value in what they do. Their jobs are a bother, and the grass always seems to be “greener on the other side.”
Most of us fall somewhere in the middle, leaning to one side or the other at times. I will assume we can all meet together in the middle for a moment and agree that swinging too far in either direction creates imbalance in our lives and disregards the importance God has placed on our positions in life. I would like to go a step further and encourage you to do something seemingly outrageous. I would like you to fire your boss in your heart. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23,24
I would like us to see our jobs, regardless of title, salary range, or seeming importance as a direct assignment from God. Whether you are washing floors, taking care of children, sitting in a spacious office responding to emails, or own your own business, you are working for God! Give Him the glory while you are working. Filter things through His lenses and rely on Him to give you a healthy outlook on your work life. Stop worrying about pleasing people (your boss) and do your very best for God. He will help you find the balance you need to do your best, to respect those in authority over you, to work well with co-workers, and yet find your identity completely secure in Him. (Contents used from “The Source” article for Young Adults and Single Adults)
Let me leave you with a paraphrased version of Psalm 23 for the Workplace:
The Lord is my real boss, and I shall not want.
He gives me peace when chaos is all around me.
He gently reminds me to pray and do all things without murmuring and complaining.
He reminds me that He is my source and not my job.
He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions that I might honor him in all that I do.
Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines,
budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors
and an aging body that doesn’t cooperate every morning,
I still will not stop – for he is with me.
His presence, His peace, and His power will see me through.
He raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.
He claims me as His own, even when the company threatens to let me go.
His faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check.
His retirement plan beats every 401k there is.
When it’s all said and done, I’ll be working for Him a whole lot longer, and for that,
I BLESS HIS NAME
- Author unknown
God Bless,
Pastor Brent
