Devotional
Whatever You Do
Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
This passage was written to slaves who were working for a master. And that constituted the bulk of the workforce in the Roman world of Paul’s day. But it is just as applicable to a modern-day workforce of employees hired by an employer. And I believe it also has application to my non-working life as well.
Do you ever find yourself being more conscientious in doing your job when the boss is in the room? I found that it was more tempting to check out the latest news online or share a moment with a co-worker when the boss was not around.
Recognizing the Real Boss
Paul’s instruction to the believers he writes to, and to believers today, is to recognize that our real boss is not that man or woman who assigns us our daily tasks on the job. Rather, it is the Lord Christ that I am ultimately serving. And he is always watching.
So give your best on the job, not just when the boss is watching, and to impress him. But serve out of sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. When you are serving the Lord in this way, it will turn your secular job into a sacred workspace.
Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.
But this passage has application beyond the workplace. Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. That would seem to include working in my garden, recreational activities, and my relationships with other people,
Whatever I do, it should be done for Christ. If I cannot do it for him, then it is probably something I should not be doing.
