Now that I am back to the states, it is time to get back into a routine. Time to go back to work. It is always difficult after returning from vacations, times of relaxation and recreation, as well as matters of the heart, whose issues impact eternity. Paying the bills is just not as exciting as feeling rested or if you might have done something that influenced someone’s path of their life or their eternal standing. Yet it is where Solomon says we must find our joy and satisfaction (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
At this point in my life, I have found rewarding work and truly feel as if what I am doing makes a difference – yet it is still work, is time consuming and must be done to meet my obligations and responsibilities. At times, it just makes me tired thinking about it. However, the day after arriving home it must be done. And I fear God and respect my family enough to do what I am called to do.
As I try to reason through what Solomon meant by the fact that the best a man can hope for is to eat, drink and enjoy his work it makes it even more important for work to be meaningful, not just to us, but to those whom we serve. It really doesn’t matter what service we perform because the Bible says ALL work is to be done as if it were being on for the Lord (Colossians 3:23). I don’t know if you are like me, but doing everything for the Lord requires keeping a very fixed mindset – the kind that Mother Teresa had when she said: “Whenever I hold a child in my arms I see the face of Jesus.” That’s the key, the mindset and heart that takes us beyond the routine, the repetitious and the boring at times.
Well, I have to tell you, your dad has not attained Mother Teresa’s mindset yet. I am prejudiced toward you, my family and friends. I am biased towards those who care about me, share common goals and aspirations, and toward those that thank me when I have done something for them. Yet, the Bible says that those “thank you’s” ARE our rewards – if we receive them while we are here on earth. They do nothing for us eternally. Yet we all struggle with needing recognition and attention. I am not sure it will ever completely go away. If there weren’t so much negativity in the world today, the good others would do would not stand out like it does. However, most expect the good and do not appreciate the heart of the giver.
As I have said in the past, it’s not the good things that we do and are applauded for, it is the quiet, unnoticed gestures that really make a difference. When things like that come to mind I always think of my parents and Tracy. I know I never thanked my mom for changing my diapers or for cleaning up the messes I made as a child. I never thanked my dad for working two jobs most of his life so I could have a better chance at life than he did. And those concepts are just the ones from home. The key is taking them to work and blessing those you work with or for.
As you know my job is to help companies and ministries function better. It is very rewarding because you can see people and their organizations functioning better and becoming more profitable. That in itself is beneficial – BUT, I get paid for that. While that is all well and good, I too must find ways to help others be blessed beyond the payment and enrich their lives in other ways. It’s not always easy to think outside the box and be creative, but if you ask God, he will always point something out that might work. Remember, don’t expect to know if you made a difference – let go and forget it. That knowledge is supposed to come later, in eternity when it really counts.
I would like to challenge you today to figure out one way that you can bless someone during your workday, outside of your normal job. Just doing your job is NOT enough. Doing it as if it were for Christ means giving them something they could not pay for. What is yours? Love Dad