Do it Heartily

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father…Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” Col. 3:17,23

It took me some time to digest these words of wisdom from Paul. Experience taught me that following this advice is beneficial not only for others but also for self.

• When Christians grumble

Sometimes as Christians we grumble, complain or argue when we feel that we’re treated unfairly. I have learned in these situations that retaliation is not the wise way to react as it indicates that we’re conforming to the pattern of this world (Rom. 12:12) and seeking the reward found in this world instead of the reward from above. Paul said:

“Do everything without complaining and arguing,  so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Phil. 2:14

Yes the world is crooked and perverse and if you complain and grumble, you’ll not be beyond reproach as you’ll be criticized for doing so. If it is your pride which is causing you to complain then you’re reacting as the crooked and perverse people do. Instead, Paul said live innocent lives as children of God. Endure hardship, if someone slap you give him the other cheek Jesus taught (Mat. 5:29). Do not resist an evil person Jesus said. We often consider a child to be innocent as he is defenseless and this is how children of lights should be. Peter says, do not return evil for evil (1 Peter 3:9). It is in adversity that Christians make the difference. When everyone expects that you’ll fight for your rights, resist and retaliate and see no reaction, it is then that you’re making a difference. This attitude is not one of defeat but of strength because you’re giving loud answer through your action that your treasure is not in this world. If you’re fighting for glory and money, then the world will see that you’re seeking the things of this world like them. Paul again wisely wrote:

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” 1 Tim. 6:9

If you have food and clothing you must be grateful to God and be content. Do not fall in the same trap as those who have been entangled by the things of this world and have wandered from the faith. There’re much sorrows awaiting when your choose money and fame as the source of your happiness.

• Whatever you do, do it heartily for the Lord

This is the cure to all the complaints, insatisfaction and grumblings. If you really do your job as if you were doing it for the Lord, you’ll stop grumbling and even seek to do more work. If the reason you’re working is to have more money and to reach a higher position, then you’ll reach a point where you’ll be discouraged or upset when you’re not promoted or there’s a lack of recognition from your boss. However, if your motive is to do your job heartily everyday as if you’re devoutly offering it to the Lord, then it will not matter if your boss sees your achievements. If you do not seek recognitions from the world then you’ll be spared the hurt of not being rewarded.  Paul said: “As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority…It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide” 1 Cor. 4:3

Imagine how the world would be if a Christian cook prepared food for customers as if it was for the Lord or a Christian doctor treated his patient as if the Lord was before him? There will be no need to go on the roof top and shout that you’ve done your best. Excel in the job you do even if no one is watching you. Whatever you do, do it for the Lord and do not expect to receive this reward on earth. Christians should be reputed to be hard workers and not known as being lazy or idle. Paul said:

“Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.” 2 Thes. 3:10-13

It is a sad truth that some Christians have bad reputations in their jobs. The name of Christ is blasphemed because of the quality of work they deliver. Whatever we do or say, Christ should be the reason of  our actions. If we’re serving Christ, we cannot participate in illicit works.

Last but not the least, God forges your character by what you do to make you what He wants you to be.

“It is not what a man does that is of final importance, but what he is in what he does. The atmosphere produced by a man, much more than his activities, has the lasting influence” Oswald Chambers