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LifeLink Devotional

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

There is a severe employment problem in America today. Thousands of jobs to be had but very few people willing to work. We could debate the reasons for this all day long and into the next election cycle, but at the root of the problem is the corrupt condition of people’s hearts. We feel entitled to more than we have, and we feel enabled to get more at no cost. The need for more is rooted in our pursuit of value and acceptance.

The intentionally unemployed believe that their value can be enhanced by high returns on minimal investment. They seek to please self.

The employed are tempted to seek the same returns with minimal investment. They do what is necessary to please their boss without a sincere work ethic that benefits the employer.

I believe the need to earn acceptance from people or earn value for self has a direct influence on our job performance. When we embrace God’s acceptance through Jesus Christ, we are free from the need to earn value for ourselves. When we know the value we have in Christ, we will not need to find more value by pleasing people. This is especially true in our job performance. The Bible speaks of this in two passages.

Colossians 3:22-24   “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 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.”

Ephesians 6:5-8  “Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.”

How do you do your job? That question cannot be honestly answered before we answer this one. WHY do you do your job? If you do it to earn personal value, you will fail. If you do it to gain acceptance from people, you will fail. But if you do it as a product of your value in Christ, and do it with thanksgiving in your heart to God who accepts you in Jesus, you will receive an inheritance worth infinitely more than any paycheck you receive.

We work because the Lord has been gracious to us to give us skills and strength. We work well because it is an act or worship to the Lord. We who are not seeking to please people and earn their acceptance should be the best workers our employers have ever hired. We work from strength not from weakness. We work for eternal rewards not for earthly benefits. We work to serve our employer not to serve self.

We who are in Christ should not be part of the employment problem.

Pastor John