I want you to think about your most prized possession. Not a person, they are not possessions. It’s okay to feel good about something you own. It may be your car, home, something you use for recreation, a boat or golf clubs; something you use for a hobby or even your work.
When you have that object in mind, imagine that I asked to borrow it and you said yes. Now imagine that when I returned it to you, it was totally trashed – dirty, dented, bent, broken, maybe even beyond repair. How are you going to feel about me at that point? What is your answer going to be the next time I ask to use something of yours?
As men who desire to be more like Christ, we understand that everything that we have; our heart, soul, mind, and body belongs to Jesus. With this in mind, we are going to look at this simple truth, “If I have truly given myself to God, and He has control over my entire being through His Holy Spirit, how am I treating what is His?”
Now consider this question in the context of your employment or your regular life responsibilities as a husband, father, son, etc. In these situations, do you see yourself as a tool to be used in the hands of a loving and powerful God, or are these simply roles you must fill to afford the opportunity to serve God in other ways. As you consider this question, remember the words of the Apostle Paul to the Colossian church in chapter 3:23-24, “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Some may feel your work is rewarding and a perfect fit for you. Others may think your job is a drag and something to be endured. Wherever you are on that spectrum, God calls you to work as if you are doing it for him and him alone. We must realize that the paycheck we receive each week is simply a temporal reward, but the inheritance from the Lord as a reward (vs. 24) is eternal.
Here is an important reminder. If you have made known your desire to follow Christ with the people who work with you, they are watching to see what difference that goal makes in your life. Complaining about your job, failing to give it all you have every moment of every day, or simply showing up with no motivation does not bring glory to God.
However, when we focus on pleasing God rather than an employer; and this is evident through our attitude and work ethic, we will stand out; but more importantly, God will stand out. We may not see an earthly reward, but we proclaim the power of Christ to those around us and solidify our inheritance in eternity.
How are we using this life God has allowed us to utilize?