Worship While You Work

If this were a leap year, we'd celebrate International Underlings Day on February 29th. It's a day to celebrate those who work behind the scenes; the people who toil day in and day out, with little to no recognition.

Under such circumstances, it can be easy to get discouraged; to worry about your impact and your legacy. To ask, "is this all there is?" But, as 1 Peter reminds us, there is nothing we do that is truly insignificant, when we work for God's glory, instead of our own.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

"So that in all things, God may be praised through Jesus Christ." This is a high calling. Whether you are a plumber, or a daycare worker, or working on an assembly line, or flipping burgers -- "whatever you do," says 1 Corinthians 10:31, "do it all for the glory of God."

And, because you're doing it for Him, do it to the very best of your abilities. Maybe you'll be recognized for it on earth, and maybe not. But when you do it as a form of worship -- because that's what it is -- know that you will be rewarded by Him whose rewards really matter (Colossians 3:24). 

So don't be downtrodden by the drudgery of what the world says is a mundane job. Worship God in your work, and with your work. Glorify God in what you do, understanding that, when people know you are a Christian, what you do -- and how you do it -- reflects on Him. Do what you do with an attitude of service to your Savior, so those around you can, through you, experience the grace of God.

Just Punchin' The Clock

Yesterday was Punch the Clock Day. Have you ever had one of those days -- or one of those jobs -- where you feel like you're just, well, punching the clock? Phoning it in? Maybe that describes your job now.

We've all been there: the work is unfulfilling; you go through your days unappreciated, unnoticed, and underpaid, and slowly being drained of all semblances of motivation. But has it occurred to you that, even if it's the last place you want to be, God has you there for a reason?

It's a lesson it took me far too long to learn, that no matter what I'm doing, ultimately, I'm doing it for Him. Consider Ephesians 6:5-8...

 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Now, Paul was talking to people in a position of unpaid servitude. People who had no choice about calling in sick. People who got no benefit from their position except, maybe, a bit of food and a roof over their heads. And his call to them? Serve, as though you were serving the Lord, and not people.  

Be encouraged! You don't labor for these men and women who may or may not appreciate all you do. You don't work for the paltry benefits and praise presented by earthly businesses. We work -- we strive for excellence -- because we are serving a God who loves and gives and rewards. 

So strive for excellence in your work, whether you're pumping gas, or managing a business, or chasing toddlers around the house -- because you're doing it for Him. 

1 Corinthians 10:31 says, "so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." And shouldn't we give God our very best?

Ditch Your Resolution - Or Let God Give You Resolve?

Today is Ditch Your Resolution Day. If you made a New Year's Resolution, it's officially time to evaluate yourself on how you're doing and then... simply make the decision to keep ignoring it.

Now, I admit, I'm really not a "resolution" guy, for exactly that reason. I don't keep them. Maybe I'm lazy, or just unmotivated. Or maybe my resolution simply doesn't get to the real heart of whatever the problem is I'm trying to change.

Nevertheless, when we make that crucial decision to turn our lives over to Christ, we do so with the expectation that we will, actually, turn over our lives. This doesn't mean an overnight change. We don't kneel in prayer and rise Super Christian. Rather, the change is a process: God shows us things in our lives He wants us to strengthen, add, or remove in order to live better, fuller lives more worthy of His name (Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God").

But it isn't just a list He gives us, a collection of New Man resolutions. He doesn't simply ask you to change your life and then wait for you to do it.

Philippians 4:13 reminds us, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."

God doesn't expect us to walk this world alone, yet when we decide to better ourselves -- be it a resolution to lose weight, or quit smoking, or get organized, we most often try to go it alone. And fail.

But 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, "whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

So, if we're working to better ourselves to be better ambassadors for Christ, we can rest assured He will bless our efforts, if we ask only ask him.

Rather than ditch your resolutions, why not ask God to strengthen your resolve?