“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”
“And whatever you do, do [work at] it heartily”
God wants the employee (“bondslave”) to serve diligently, not carelessly. He does not want us to help our employer with displeasure, no matter the nature of our employment.
“Heartily” means out of the soul. We do whatever we do with a genuine conviction originating from our souls. This labor comes from the essential character that comes from within. We do not serve out of making an impression on others. Our work then is not mechanical or perfunctory.
We will exert power from the soul at our job or place of employment. We may dislike our job, but God wants us to consider it an opportunity to serve him enthusiastically.
The Greek uses two different words for “do” in this verse. The first means are dong. The second word is an advance on the first meaning of work or labor. There is double stress in this verse upon diligence:
1) “heartily” or out of the soul and
2) “do” with effort. God expects us to put in a whole-hearted day’s work at our employment.
Principle:
God wants us to discharge our job with enthusiasm.
Application:
Ultimately we honor God when we faithfully do our job. If we do not work with enthusiasm, then we are not in God’s will. God wants us to do everything at work with a sense of spirit. No job is dreary with this perspective. What a difference from trying to get by with as little effort as possible.
Whatever job to which God calls us, He wants us to serve Him with it. Our work may subsist as menial; we may dislike our job. Still, God wants us to serve Him heartily in that job. He wants us to throw ourselves into our work.
Serving the Lord at our job gives dignity to what we do. We may sweep floors, wash dishes, change diapers, or empty the trash. We may work at an office where everyone cuts corners and takes long coffee breaks, but we break that standard. The Christian does not operate on the same standards as the herd. Our boss is in heaven. Therefore, we throw our hearts into our work.
All work is sacred before the Lord. Nothing is unimportant that we do when we serve him.
May god richly bless you for you astounding teaching on this subject.Please will love to receive message more message from you.
Thanks for share with us this wonderful scripture.
Everything i do, i should do with love and care. Do so for the Lord.
For God to be able to use us as vessels, we must be empty, clean, and available. He then can take us and fill us and use us for His glory! But if we are filled with sin or defiled by disobedience; He will first have to purge us of our sins (1 John 1:9; Psalm 51:7).
Thank you for this wonderful post. May God bless you more than ever for blessings others.
Its wonderful
God bless you for breaking down this verse. God put it in my spirit and I try to think of it everyday at work. I hate my job but this allows me to view it from a better perspective. This is my confirmation and I will work as though I’m working for the Lord!