God’s Working People
The Work of Our Hands – Part II
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12-17
Key Verses: Colossians 3:23-24
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.
Continuing from yesterday’s devotional, let me remind you that it is not easy to develop a consistent attitude that in your job, you work for the Lord.
One of the major reasons this attitude is difficult is that it sometimes seems like we lose some good benefits. In other words, from a worldly point of view, it does not always seem to pay to be so faithful to the Lord.
If we are going to be faithful to the Lord, we cannot lie to get out of the consequences of our mistakes. Being honest does not always seem to be the smartest thing.
Working as for the Lord might mean that you will not be popular with your co-workers. They might accuse you of trying to “kiss up” to the boss. Working as for the Lord makes us conscientious workers, and unbelieving co-workers may make fun of you.
There might even be a time when you could lose your job because you refuse to do something you know is not right.
Now that I have given you examples of what you could lose, let me remind you that the Lord is watching you and He rewards those that faithfully serve Him. He knows how to vindicate you and turn circumstances around, in His perfect timing. When negative things happen to you because you would not compromise your standard of working for the Lord, you can cling to the promise that God works all things out for your good.
I have heard people say that losing their job was the best thing that happened to them because of how happy they are with their new job. God’s timing often scares us because it does not always like we want.
It is during times of uncertainty that we must exercise our “faith muscles” and trust that help is on the way from the Lord. It is also true that sometimes we will not see any reward until we get to heaven.
Most of Jesus’s disciples died a martyr’s death. They did not see the rewards of their faithful service until they stood before their Lord at the end of their lives. Remember, when God rewards us, all the pain we experience in this life will be worth it; let’s stay faithful in our work for the Lord.
Father, grant me wisdom and courage as I navigate the challenges of seeing my work as an opportunity to work for You. I want to shine bright for You as I do my job in this world. May Your Holy Spirit guide me. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.