Work's Bad Rap

Why do so many want to never have to work?

Symptoms abound that show Americans don't like their
work. Each week thousands exclaim "It's Friday!" In
those two words is the promise of time away from the
salt mine. During the week employees discuss dreams of
retirement and how to speed up the process. Retirement,
of course, means never having to go to work again.

Then there are those who play the lotteries. No one
likes paying taxes, but many gladly pay a few bucks to
their state government as they try to woo Lady Luck.

An article on SavingAdvice.com, however, states the case
bluntly: "Don't waste your money." A typical state
lottery, says the article, has odds of winning at 1 in 18
million. A person is six times more likely to be killed by
a lightning strike, and three times more likely to die in
a car crash on the way to purchase that ticket. /1 Such
facts, however, don't seem to dim the pursuit of a
financial windfall.

People go to great lengths to never have to work again.
Wouldn't life be simpler if we could make peace with
our jobs?

Paul believed that a new view of work is possible. He
said this to Christians at Ephesus:

"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your
masters according to the flesh, with fear and
trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;
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"
(Ephesians 6:5-7, NKJV).

Those in free societies have difficulty imagining a more
difficult existence than being a slave. Talk about a bad
job! At no time are you off the clock, and you can never
call in sick. Yet slaves were urged to change their
views of their work. Instead of focusing on the harsh
master, look to the benevolent Lord to whom we willingly
bound ourselves. See work as an opportunity to do service
"to the Lord, and not to men."

Paul's exhortation to servants in Titus 2:10 adds one
more dimension to this new view of work: "... that they
may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things."
The way we go about our daily employment displays our
view of God. A Christian has the opportunity on the job
to show the good difference God can make. Our faith is
not just for Sunday mornings; it shapes the attitudes
we bring to the workplace.

Let us no longer view our jobs as a ball and chain that
keeps us from enjoying life. It's a new mission we've
received. Through our work we can show the devotion we
have to the Lord who will one day lead us to eternal
rest (Revelation 14:13).

1/ http://tinyurl.com/39fto7

 

--by  Tim Hall