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. (Col 3:23-24)
Lately, I've been feeling a little disjointed at work. My boss is a good man, but he's a bit erratic in his leadership style and there have been times where I feel as if he's thrown his managers "under the bus". There are snap decisions made and changes happen from the gut rather than from careful considerations. There are also moments of loose integrity and a strange lack of trust in the culture. I suppose there is a bit of that at every job (no job is perfect).
Through a combination of the types of occurrences above, I believe that I have lost some of the respect that I have had for him and as a consequence, I'm not very excited to go to work. Oh, I'm getting my work done with competence and responsibility, but on the inside, I know that I'm far from enthusiastic.
Yesterday, although our team is busy doing a big project that he pushed forward two months, I got an additional request that seemed a little silly. Tired from a long week at both work and at home, I fumed at the thought of it. I complained in my mind at my desk and later on the drive home.
Then, I felt the Holy Spirit remind me of this verse, and ask me, "Why don't you respect the person that I have put over your authority? Why do you complain and make your own heart bitter because of the things that you are actually paid to do?"
In a typical God-like fashion, He had cut to the chase. Yes, I may not have the perfect boss, and there are times when he makes decisions that make our lives harder -- BUT, my boss is not the issue.
God already knew what kind of man he sent me to work for, and it was the Lord who placed me where I am. In truth, I am working with God as my boss, and my current boss is only a conduit.
Now, there may come a time when the Lord calls me to work elsewhere at which time I will be obedient to the call and be released from my current place of work. Nor am I a slave and bound to stay without my personal consent. I have a choice to obey and serve where I am or to go elsewhere.
YET, if I choose to obey and choose to stay (I am hardly abused at work - the conditions are decent), I can't serve with mere competence. I must serve with the right heart and the right attitude.
And it starts with respecting my leaders, even if they are not always worthy of respect. It starts with a proper conduct on the inside and out.
Complaining in a poison in my own soul. It doesn't improve a situation or make it better - rather, it enhances and brings dissatisfaction to the forefront. Shared complaints are even worse - they sow discontent and pollute the work environment. A dark cloud hangs over the organization that has a complaining attitude and motivation drops to the bare minimums.
Now, I'm not the only one who felt this way at work - it has been going on for a while, but I have allowed myself to participate in the dissatisfaction at work. I need to choose to stop that.
I have a lot to learn in my field and I know this. I also know that my boss is both a good man and a knowledgeable man. He is generally good at what he does, and if I have a good attitude, I can take away new insights and boost my personal experience.
That can happen - if I view my job in the right light and bring a renewed passion. I am not working for my boss, I work for Jesus. However, my boss is to be respected because the Lord placed him over me in authority.
Lord Jesus, you have been very right in diagnosing the sickness within me. I have been bitter and complaining in my heart. That is not the way that a man who is grateful to You should act. Please help me to repent and to change Lord. Please help me to be a good worker, an enthusiastic worker. Help me to forgive truly some of the instances that have occurred in which I have felt betrayed and under-appreciated. Let me instead realize that regardless of what may happen, You are on the throne, and Your plans for me with never be thwarted by the actions of man.
Thank You for my job. Thank You for all that You have allowed our family to experience through this job. Cleanse my heart and help me to stand with a clean heart once again. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Embracing Our Humble Callings
"You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world? When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world? After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul?...I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering." (1 Cor. 3:3-7)
This verse really struck me today because as a younger Christian, I attended a locally famous church and I remember that some people who attended used to liken the pastor to Billy Graham and his gift for evangelism.
But as I've grown older in Christ and in wisdom, I realize that my Pastor that seemed so famous, pious and good is only a man. In reality, he's not really that famous, although he is, as far as I can discern, pious and good (for which I am glad).
But even when it comes down to someone like Billy Graham, a man I completely admire and respect, who is Billy? He is a man who is faithful to the call of Christ to water or plant the seed of faith in many worldwide. Yet, can even Billy Graham take credit for anything? As Paul says, "No, it was God who made it grow."
Being a former missionary, it is easy to compare accomplishments and to get into a numbers mindset. We are not rating even ourselves in the church based on Paul's metric in this verse, but instead we are trying to measure success using boardroom metrics for success. How big is our facility?, how many were "saved" this weekend?, How wide is our television net?
I am no longer a formal missionary -- I was called into business, and God has blessed my career. What this verse really speaks to me is that I really need to run my own personal race and follow my own calling. God has me in business for a purpose -- I really don't know all the ramifications of why He has placed me where I am, and it doesn't seem like I'm making a huge difference in His kingdom. However, I simply try to live and conduct myself in the Lord's ways as much as I can.
I'm not a gregarious Christian who is trying to convince everyone around me to join my church...however, I try my best to identify myself as a Christian and to lend Christian viewpoints to daily conversation. If I encounter moral challenges in my job, I try to example the Lord's ways and even attempt to convince those I report to as well as those I manage to make moral choices in our workplace decisions.
I know that I may never really truly convince someone I come across to make a choice for Christ. But, does the numbers of those who pray the sinners prayer define who I am? No -- nothing besides the truth that I am a new creation in Christ can define me from the day I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. Nothing and no one.
God places each man into a certain role in life -- and few of them, even those that seem so famous to a young Christian, truly are glamorous. The job of "watering can in the business world" is actually very mundane and hidden. But -- if I simply remain faithful to the job I've been given by the Lord, I know that I will be pleasing to Him.
This verse really struck me today because as a younger Christian, I attended a locally famous church and I remember that some people who attended used to liken the pastor to Billy Graham and his gift for evangelism.
But as I've grown older in Christ and in wisdom, I realize that my Pastor that seemed so famous, pious and good is only a man. In reality, he's not really that famous, although he is, as far as I can discern, pious and good (for which I am glad).
But even when it comes down to someone like Billy Graham, a man I completely admire and respect, who is Billy? He is a man who is faithful to the call of Christ to water or plant the seed of faith in many worldwide. Yet, can even Billy Graham take credit for anything? As Paul says, "No, it was God who made it grow."
Being a former missionary, it is easy to compare accomplishments and to get into a numbers mindset. We are not rating even ourselves in the church based on Paul's metric in this verse, but instead we are trying to measure success using boardroom metrics for success. How big is our facility?, how many were "saved" this weekend?, How wide is our television net?
I am no longer a formal missionary -- I was called into business, and God has blessed my career. What this verse really speaks to me is that I really need to run my own personal race and follow my own calling. God has me in business for a purpose -- I really don't know all the ramifications of why He has placed me where I am, and it doesn't seem like I'm making a huge difference in His kingdom. However, I simply try to live and conduct myself in the Lord's ways as much as I can.
I'm not a gregarious Christian who is trying to convince everyone around me to join my church...however, I try my best to identify myself as a Christian and to lend Christian viewpoints to daily conversation. If I encounter moral challenges in my job, I try to example the Lord's ways and even attempt to convince those I report to as well as those I manage to make moral choices in our workplace decisions.
I know that I may never really truly convince someone I come across to make a choice for Christ. But, does the numbers of those who pray the sinners prayer define who I am? No -- nothing besides the truth that I am a new creation in Christ can define me from the day I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. Nothing and no one.
God places each man into a certain role in life -- and few of them, even those that seem so famous to a young Christian, truly are glamorous. The job of "watering can in the business world" is actually very mundane and hidden. But -- if I simply remain faithful to the job I've been given by the Lord, I know that I will be pleasing to Him.
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