I'm not God, but I work for him

I typically think of myself as a good worker.  I like to do a good job and get things done just for the sake of getting them done.  This pleases me.  I makes me feel good about myself.  I adore organization.  I love nothing more than organized files and a calendar that makes perfect sense.  I love to follow through on an agenda.  I love to get my bills paid and invoices filed.  I like an empty in-box at the end of the day.  I am thrilled when my "to-do" list is completely checked off at 5:00.  I don't like to think about work, when I'm not at work, because I haven't left loose ends hanging about and ready to fray.  I'm not a fan of clutter and disorder.  I despise undone chores.  I struggle to understand people who say they are going to do something, and then never seem to get it done.  Listening to people say they need to do the same work over and over again completely frustrates me.  I always think, to myself, make a plan and get it done.  This is how I am. 

When I see these things written down it makes me wonder who it is I work for.  Do I work for myself?  Do I get enough satisfaction out of a job done well and getting paid for it?  When I am working, do I do things well because I like them done well?  Or, do I work for my boss?  Do I work well to keep from getting reprimanded or, worse, fired?  Or do I work for my family?  Do I earn money and carry insurance to keep them safe and secure?

This week I'm on my own, at work.  You know what they say about vacations at work?  If you don't, I'll tell you.  They say, you get two vacations at your job:  your vacation and your boss's vacation.  Anyway, my boss is on vacation.  Yet, I have a deep need to do a good job and not slack off (too much) while he is away.  It just doesn't feel right.  It's just not who I am.

While I was thinking about why I am the way I am, this bible verse from Colossians 3:23-24 came to my mind.  It says, "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."  I don't think these verses mean you have to be doing church work or missionary work to be working for God.  I think this has more to do with attitude, because in verse 22 Paul is talking to slaves. 

Then I remembered that Adam and Eve were given work to do in the very beginning of the world.  In Genesis 2:15, it says, "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it."  This reminds me that we are meant to do work. 

Even more to the point is what Paul says in Thessalonians 3:10-12, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their own work quietly and to earn their own living."  Boy, this makes me feel much better about my work ethic and makes me wonder why our government thinks we have to take care of all the slackers out there.  I'm not talking about the poor, I'm talking about encouraging a life-style of having a hand out begging for entitlements.

I'm doing my work and I'm doing my work to the best of my ability.  I feel good about myself when I put in a good day's worth of work.  It makes me happy to think while I am working, I'm not only being obedient to God, but I'm working with an attitude as working for God.

351.  Learning to do another part of the job (since a co-worker has left and hasn't been replaced, yet) with an attitude of interest and willingness

352.  People willing to teach me and help me when I forget what they tried to teach me

353.  Xerox service and a quick response to a broken copy machine

355.  Peace and quiet without the bosses around 

356.  Peace and quiet to focus on learning a new budgeting system

Linking with Em at Imperfect Prose on Thursdays.