SEPTEMBER 3, 2012
Why
We Work
Read: Ephesians 6:5-9
Not with
eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ,
doing the will of
God from the heart. —Ephesians 6:6
In
the late 1660s, Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to
re-design St. Paul’s
Cathedral in London. According to legend,
one day he visited the construction
site of this great edifice and
was unrecognized by the workers. Wren walked
about the site,
asking several of the men what they were doing. One worker
replied, “I am cutting a piece of stone.” A second worker responded,
“I’m
earning five shillings two pence a day.” A third, however, had
a different
perspective: “I am helping Christopher Wren build a
magnificent cathedral to
the glory of God.” What a contrast in the
attitude and motivation of that
worker!
Why
we do what we do is extremely important, particularly when
it comes to our
working lives and careers. That’s why Paul challenged
the Ephesians to do their
work, “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers,
but as bondservants of Christ,
doing the will of God from the heart,
with goodwill doing service, as to the
Lord, and not to men” (Eph. 6:6-7).
If
we do our work merely to earn a paycheck or satisfy a supervisor,
we will fall
short of the highest motivation—doing our best as evidence
of our devotion to
God. So, why do we work? As that laborer told Wren,
we work “to the glory of
God.”
Be not always wanting
Some other work to do,
But gratefully perform the task
The Lord has given you. —Anon.
No matter who signs your paycheck, you are really working for
God.
Source: Our Daily Bread 2012
