Doing Work for God

Hey, Jesus Jotters!

What a beautiful day it was to be alive today in Sibley, Iowa. The sun was shining with a temperature of over 70◦, a light breeze was flowing through the budding trees, the birds were chirping, and my black lab, Charlie, laid on our front steps to soak in the sun. Yes, a beautiful day to...work?!? Yep, I worked today...And let me tell you, some days I just feel like quitting. 

I work for my grandpa, who lives down the road, in his self-owned greenhouse, and sure,  it's fun to see all the flowers begin to bud and see all my work come to life, but honestly...today I would have rather been sitting outside and soaking in the sun like Charlie! Why, God, why must you make this beautiful day when I have to work INSIDE???

So many times we feel like the work we are doing isn't worth the work at all because we'd rather be doing something else for ourselves, or we would rather spend that time with friends and family. Sure, doing those things is very important, and God wants us to take some time to enjoy the blessings he's given us, but what about the rest of the time? What about the work God calls us to do and the work that he has specifically set aside for us to accomplish in his name? And I'm not just talking about our 9-5 jobs working in an office, as a student, as a farmer, or even a self-employed person. God has given us those jobs so that we can serve HIM.

Sometimes we think, "How could I possibly serve God sitting in a cubicle all day?" or "I don't have time to serve God when I need to focus on school." or maybe even "No one in my line of work believes in Jesus, my boss doesn't approve talking about religion, and I just don't feel comfortable bringing God to work with me."

Well here's a little secret, we may think that the work we're doing isn't meant to pour into our spiritual life and that God has no place, but it does and HE does. God is always with us, no matter where we are and what we're doing, and he's constantly giving us opportunities to reveal himself through our actions and works.

God understands that we need those jobs so that we can provide for our families and for ourselves, but what about him??? Where does he come into play in the busyness of our schedules???

Though we may feel we are too busy for God or that it doesn't feel right bringing him into other parts of our lives besides church, God has never been too busy for us, so the least we could do is answer his call and start bringing him with us everywhere we go.

How can we accomplish this? God tells us that when we do works (actions) in his name, he will reward us greatly in heaven.

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free." (Ephesians 6:7-8)


By showing God's love through how we treat people and performing our work with God in mind, we can show people who God is no matter where life takes us. And when we are not ashamed to present ourselves in a godly way and when we are not ashamed to profess that our actions are being lead by God, it is then that God looks down upon our actions and works with pleasure.

"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)

What about you? Where is God calling you in life? How can you show others God's love everyday?


Love, Trish