February 16, 2012
Today’s Text: Colossians 3:22-25 “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”
Today’s Key Thought: A wise steward of their vocation works for the Lord first.
Very few of us are able to work in a very Godly environment on a regular basis. Most of us work with a very mixed group of people with all sorts of faiths and ethics, both good and bad. Many of us also work for men and women who do not please the Lord in their management skills which affects their role over you as a Christian. Although their lack of morality or Godliness is sometimes a constant concern for you, your role has not changed. God desires that his servants work for their earthly masters in obedience. But some might say, “you just don’t know what kind of a person I’m working for!”. Regardless of that person’s morality or belief, God has called you to answer to their authority in obedience (in light of the law of God as well). A Christians obedience to his authorities at work, as well, should be done out of sincerity, not out of a false pretense, knowing that a Christians first works for the Lord in everything they do. No matter your role or job description, God desires that you first work for Him and work hard while doing it! Now that’s a modern day contradiction! Most would say, “If you don’t like your job or your boss makes you mad, slack off, take longer breaks and duck when the boss is coming.” Yet God says, “Work hard, work for me, regardless of your job or boss, and I will reward you for doing so.”
Application:
So what is your attitude in the workplace? Are you doing just enough to get by? Are you slacking off because of your job or boss’ treatment? Remember, as a Christian you work first for the Lord! Today’s challenge may be a hard one, but it’s worth the effort. Today, go to work (or whatever you do today) and work at it hard. Don’t let yourself be distracted by others, work as if God was watching you……because He is.
Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings 
As a stay at home, homeschooling mom, I really don’t have a “boss”. I don’t punch a clock somewhere and take direction from a boss. This is a good devotional because it reminds me that even though I don’t answer necessarily to a “boss” ,I do answer to God for what I do and don’t do, and how I do things and don’t do things. I do feel I am a hard worker, but I don’t always conduct myself in my “jobs” as if God were watching. I really need to meditate on this, and really remember to do all my work to God’s glory. He is watching me, and if I stopped to think about that more often, I would be more careful about how I do things on a daily basis. I don’t need to impress man with all my “good works”. It ultimately only matters what God thinks of me. I will try harder today to remember why I am doing all I do.
Well I don’t have a workplace but my mom said that my only job is school and yes sometimes I’m lazy at school and when I was in 6th I got by and in 7th grade a decided that I needed to step up and now in 8th grade my goal is to get straight A’s and yes I know that I’m working for God and I’m super happy about that! 🙂
Good job Mafalda!! That is a good testimony of your love for God to those at your school cause most kids don’t care about school and their grades
I try most of the time to do things as unto the Lord. I think that being more organized has helped and is helping me to accomplish more for his glory. That is where I am at is knowing what to do and to do it. That is a way I can work hard in my part time job and in my job as a wife and mother.
My mom has said, that if you wouldn’t do something with God over your shoulder you shouldn’t be doing it at all. It’s funny, because even though we cannot see Him, He’s always over our shoulder watching us. He knows what we’re about to say even before we say it, He knows our very next move. We have so many choices to make, and we need to keep God in mind in every single one of them. For me, at the moment, school is my workplace. I tend to get upset with my “boss” or teachers because of things they’ve done in class, or if they lost something and accused me of not doing it, etc. I love this part of the verses- but in singleness of heart, fearing God. Wow. When I put myself in my workplace, (school), I need to be having God as my focus. No matter how aggravated I get, God promises that if we do things for Him, it WILL be worth it. It may not seem worth it now, but it will be. What an incredible concept. These verses are so powerful and when you stick an application to it, they’re mind blowing.