“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Col 3:23
Most of my days as a mom feel thankless. No one is thanking me for cleaning up the mess left over from breakfast, no one is thanking me for getting them dressed or putting their shoes on, no one is thanking me for changing their diaper or getting them their third glass of water. Often I want to throw my hands up in the air and stop serving my family until they can be grateful.
My husband often feels the same way at work. He tells me that he picks up extra tasks, unwilling to let things go left undone because someone else shirked their responsibility. He also has a heart for new people and is willing to take extra time to show them the ropes, remembering what it was like to feel thrown to the wolves. Often that too goes left unacknowledged by his boss and sometimes unthanked by those he’s helping.
We work so hard for our families and our paychecks and are often left feeling defeated, with the question why bother looming in the air. Paul encourages our spirit here to not lose hope but continue working heartily, that our Father in Heaven may be glorified through our effort. Today, we expose the resentment we have toward our daily grind and lift it up to God in an act of worship, receiving His approval and reward for our work.
Reflection
How can you turn what you do in your current vocation into worship?
How can you encourage others, reflecting God’s approval and glory over others?
Prayer
Lord, I thank you that when I am sure no one cares about what I am doing with most of my day, that you do. I lift up my vocation to you as an act of worship, and ask you would receive my efforts as an expression of love to you. Reveal the resentment I have harbored against my family and/or my coworkers and forgive me for becoming bitter against the very thing You have given me as a blessing. Amen
