An Honest Day's Work

This is my place of employment. Outside of tax season I am here four days a week about 9 1/2 hours a day. I love my job. I enjoy my responsibilities and I am blessed to work for a Christian boss. Something that has struck me as interesting is how many people in the world today don't put in an "honest day's work". The complete phrase that has been coined is "an honest day's work for an honest day's pay". People want to be paid but they find ways to "cheat" their employer of a full day's work-get in a few minutes late or take a few extra breaks, or leave early often.  I'm thankful for parents that taught me a good work ethic, one that hopefully I have passed on to my children. If I am being paid for something then I should be there and do what I need to do. I read an interesting article that talked about God being the first one to "work". He created the world in six days and then He rested. When He was done, He placed Adam in the garden to tend to it-this was work.

Genesis 2:15

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it"

God tells us in Colossians 3:23

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men," 

And I believe that this includes your job as well. As Christians, as we live one day at a time we need to keep Christ as our focus-doing our job for Him and not just for our boss. Being a good employee means that you learn to be a good steward of your time while you are at your job. If you read the story of Joseph, when he worked for Pharaoh, he saved many people's lives because of his work. I want to be remembered in a good light like Joseph is in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 4:2

"Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."

Christ talks about how faithful servants are rewarded. 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.  And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.  But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.  After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’  His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Be an honest worker, work while you are at work, be an employee that your boss would want to clone and brag about! Then you will know that you have earned your paycheck. But do everything you are supposed to do for Christ first, so that if you are praised by man it will be "an added bonus." (as my "big brother Bill would always say.)