Work Hard at Keeping A Good Perspective
Ever struggle with a bad attitude? It can happen to the best of us…even when we might be in the best of circumstances. Read ahead for an example of how we can rely on God’s truth to remind us where our focus should be.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23
Adventure is at my fingertips every day working at camp, including the Ropes Course. Not a bad way to earn a living, right? What I didn’t tell you is sometimes I work on the Zip line five consecutive days. I’m 2 hours in and I’ve had the same conversation with 40 kids…all of them nervous, all unwilling to trust the safety of the course before them. In the meantime I’m glancing at my watch as the minutes slowly pass by until the end of the session when I can call it a day.
I nearly lost some of you there because of my attitude. Working on a ropes course, like any job or task we face in life, can become monotonous. Sometimes we lose our perspective. We focus on the difficulties and what we’d rather be doing.
Does this happen to you at work? In school? In life?
This is usually when God reminds me of Colossians 3:23 and my focus is snapped back to the reality of the abundant life, MY abundant life (John 10:10). Jesus came to give me this life, and I remember my to-do list, my task, my job is ultimately an act of worship and service to the Lord. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” Colossians 3:23.
How easy it is to lose that perspective!
Here are a few key points to help us maintain our focus.
- Think of your work as worship. Romans 12:1 says “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.” Even the most routine part of our day can be a spiritual act of worship, holy and pleasing to God.
- Follow through with your commitments, despite how you feel. Be confident that no task is too small. Psalm 37:23 says, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the righteous and delights in his ways.” Understand that we must be found faithful in small steps to be trusted with the bigger steps. (Luke 16:10)
- View your task as a “God assignment”. Though you may feel bent in many different directions, never let the bending interfere with your perseverance toward God’s assignments or special appointments for you. Rest firmly on the verse, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
When I work as if working for the Lord suddenly my perspective is different…
… Each kid walking through brings an opportunity for me to show Jesus.
… I focus more on caring about others’ feelings and their experience than how I’m spending my time or what else I could be doing.
… I want to please Him, not myself.
Camper Corner
What about you? What has God called you to today? This week, how can you view your tasks as specific assignments from God…even if it means working with your brother or sister to get a gift for your parents or complete a chore?!
