247/365: Make Your Labor an Act of Love

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. ~ 1 Corinthians 13: 3

We men are doers. We are action oriented. Sometimes we slip into the role of "roadside assistance" or "handyman" out of obligation rather than seeing each opportunity as a way to show God's love, God's hands, and God's feet at work right here on Earth.

We get busy. We get focused on our own problems and needs.

What if you viewed your job or work as an act of service for those around you or those you serve?

GO DEEPER: Colossians 3: 23-24

Next Step: Can you perform each task as if it were a mission project? Could you introduce someone to God simply by the way you serve or work at your job?

Compliantbark34

on 09/05/2023 at 03:31 AM

I’ve never stopped to think about my job as being a service to the Lord. It’s always been, for me at least, just something that is required of me to support my family. This is something I’ll be praying God will remind me of at work in the weeks to come.

Old Dude

on 09/04/2023 at 09:02 PM

We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body. ~ Oswald Chambers

Ethan Rogers

on 09/04/2023 at 07:38 PM

Great topic and something that will help me keep in tune with the Lord.

Joey Elie

on 09/04/2023 at 04:47 PM

Sometimes I struggle with people who are lazy at work. I work for the VA and also Im aVeteran. I housed homeless Veterans. While others just are there for a paycheck. I know what it’s like to be homeless addicted to drugs and alcohol. This is my calling in life to help veterans. But like the Bible says my work is on to the Lord. I need not to get mad but pray for my coworkers.

Brandon Pembleton

on 09/04/2023 at 03:18 PM

Every single job role exists to serve someone else and improve life for all of us as a collective. If it fails at that then that job isn’t going to be around for long. Kind of neat to think of it like that. Not to mention that call is to service of others no matter what our role might be at work. On top of that the joy a person gets from putting their best effort into their work is pretty incredible. Then add in that working hard is almost looked at like an anomaly and it’s a recipe for curiosity from others. Why work so hard some may ask. Some may even get upset that you’re making them look bad. When in reality you’re doing it right. You’ll go home with satisfying fatigue. But more often than not you’ll go home energized and happy. God didn’t build us to just lay around watching Netflix or gaming all day. He built us to move to create. So get creative at work you might improve the setting for everyone there and you never know where that may lead to opportunity to spread the word of God in it. I love you God amen 🙏

Robert McFaddin

on 09/04/2023 at 02:57 PM

Big time struggle for me. I need to live Colossians 3:23-24 better than I ever have. I get SO bogged down in my problems and struggles. I need Jesus to continually break these chains that I keep wrapping myself in. He HAS set me free! I CAN live my life for others. Please help me Jesus! I’m SO TIRED of living the way I’ve lived for practically my entire life. I was born again at 11 years old and am now about to turn 58. Jesus PLEASE help me to lay down my life and take up my cross and follow You! PLEASE… I can’t do it without You.

Chris C

on 09/04/2023 at 02:42 PM

Praying for you Bud Alan. Thank you brothers, for all your inspirational comments! Praise God!

Ashley Jarvis

on 09/04/2023 at 02:26 PM

I don’t know about all of you, but I have a real tendency to over complicate nearly everything. The recipe for being a cheerful giver and happy worker really isn’t very complex. Jesus summed it up very well in Matthew 5, and that’s what woke me up. My son got into my car Friday from school with a new bracelet on… WWJD. He showed me excitedly, and I looked back at my 8th grader through tears asking where he got it… “20 or 30 kids in school had a bunch and were handing them out, pretty cool huh?!”. He has no idea how cool that is, how much hope it brought me, or how much different his school culture must be compared to mine. Jesus, makes ALL the difference in our lives, ALL the difference. The incredible part about the bracelets wasn’t that a bunch of kids were handing them out… No, what is incredible is that a bunch of kiddos were excited to wear them! Same with Jesus eating with criminals… The incredible part wasn’t that Jesus was eating with the criminals, it was that the criminals WANTED to eat with Jesus! That, is the attitude that we are to walk this earth with, one that when we are in life next to someone, no matter how far they’ve strayed, the love of Jesus pours out of us in such a way the brings them closer… 🙏🏻

michael f vinning

on 09/04/2023 at 02:22 PM

The answer to the challenge questions is YES. We can all do this no matter what out line of work is, even if we’re retired. It’s how you treat EVERYONE - EVERYDAY! The people in traffic, especially the ones who cut you off or are going to slow, the people in wal mart or Costco, at the hardware store and post office and the ones living inside your house!! Can show them Jesus everyday through our actions, facial expressions, and sometimes our words! Strength and courage brothers!!

Greg Jones

on 09/04/2023 at 02:09 PM

I am reminded of something I saw on TV a while back A gentleman said we tell people about Christ every day and when we have to, we use words.

styckx

on 09/04/2023 at 02:04 PM

This one hit hard. I am guilty as charged. I feel so obligated to do things yet if I looked at the tasks as an act of service and as a way of displaying God’s love through my actions I would be more than happy to do the same exact task. Time to check my heart!

Boyce Moses

on 09/04/2023 at 01:47 PM

I like to let people know I’m a Christian without ever saying a word. I let my actions and deeds show it. Occasionally someone will ask why I’m doing/helping and I just say that’s our job on earth is to help each other. Love you Jesus! 💜💚🤎💛

Bud Alan Teegarden

on 09/04/2023 at 12:52 PM

I have been having some problems with my medication and I can feel the prayers coming in for my relief from the stress and discomfort it’s causing me . Please keep praying for me as I’m not quite out of the woods yet, thank you Amen

Tommy Williamson

on 09/04/2023 at 11:44 AM

Each day we have many opportunities to share the Lord with those around us. It can be on our daily devotional as we share our thoughts and feels with those that need to hear/read an encouraging word or it could be through a simple prayer for someone that is in need. For me I like to encourage some through my woodcrafts as I give them something I feel they will get enjoyment out of. I truly love sharing something with child that I feel the Lord moving on to share a simple toy with and thereby getting to share with the parents and encourage them or maybe even lead them to the Lord. Let’s all look for ways to witness and encourage ever person that comes through our lives.

247/365: Make Your Labor an Act of Love

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