Whistle While You Work

May 3, 2022

Whistle While You Work

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

Colossians 3:14-17;23-24 (NLT)

Maybe you are one of those folk (much like Missy and I) who have bumper stickers on your car. We like to collect them from different places we have visited. Some people like to reveal their life philosophies via their bumper stickers. Perhaps you have seen the one that says: "I owe, I owe, so off to work I go."

It’s an unfortunate truth, but often it appears the best reason some can muster for going to their job each day is because of the amount of debt they have accrued. Going to a job you “hate” is one of the worst feelings in all the world. Amen?

According to a Forbes poll from 2019 less than 50% of American office workers are satisfied with their jobs. In Japan, the figure dips to less than 20%. Eegads…

But what about just doing anything? Not a job - but, you know, chores, daily tasks, taking care of loved ones that are sick, cooking, cleaning, etc. Everyday life - filled with all of its “things to do” - can be overbearing at times…and sometimes overwhelming.

Mix that with poor health, bad nutrition, lack of self care, mental stress…and well, that’s “a recipe for disaster.”

So, what are we to do? Is there anything we can do?

A simple, yet significant and often overlooked way we can break through the everyday grind is by realizing we serve God in how we approach and complete our everyday tasks. What is that way? The way of joy - the joy of serving Jesus.

Martin Luther understood this when he wrote, "The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays -- not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship."

Yes, God - Elohim, El Shaddai, Yahweh - God is interested in what you do and that should be the one, single motivating factor for us to do our best. It does not matter what “it” is. Mowing the lawn? Do your best - for Christ. Dusting the cabinet? Do you best - for Christ. Making your bed (Oh, wait, do we have to make our beds?)? Do your best - for Christ.

The fact is this: if we can focus our effort on Christ in the little things we will definitely do the same for the major things. It’s no wonder Jesus said: “His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!'”(Matthew 25:23 NIV)

Many of you are going through a difficult season of life. Time seems to be standing still. You’re weary. You’re worn out. You feel like giving up. You have nothing - we mean, absolutely nothing - left to give. May we speak to you for a moment?

Take a very deep breath. Close your eyes. Speak honestly, openly and out loud what you are feeling and where you are…to God. No one else, to God.

After a few minutes - take your time - get up and take the next step. Take the next step. It cannot be overstated - not moving forward is as bad a decision as we can make. Sure, we are to “Be still and know that Yahweh is God…” (Psalm 46:10). But, do not forget, the Son of God told his followers to “Go.”

And we can “go.” We can move forward - for Jesus is with us every step of the way.

Find what needs to be done today. You don’t need a list (although that may help you). But, you probably already know what needs to be done today. Do not allow the drudgery of such things to keep you from doing them. Do what you need to do today as if you were doing it for Jesus.

After all, that’s exactly what you are doing.

Steve and Missy