Spencer Johnson, author of Who Moved My Cheese? stated in an article: “I believe research may one day show that the only long-lasting motivation will come from employees who bring it to work in the form of God, spirituality, or something else that causes them to rise to a higher purpose.” Long before Dr. Johnson came to that conclusion, the apostle Paul said that slaves (employees) and masters (employers) should be motivated by a higher purpose in their jobs—their relationship with Jesus.
In Colossians 3:22–4:1, Paul discussed three important aspects of work—mandate, manner, and motivation. Employees have the mandate to obey their bosses out of reverence for Christ (Colossians 3:22). The manner in which they obey flows from a sincere heart and with a right attitude. Paul wrote, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Colossians 3:23). Employees can overcome the lack of motivation in their work and accept new responsibilities without a negative reaction by focusing on their true motivation: working for Jesus (Colossians 3:24).
Paul also addressed the actions of employers. They should treat their employees with fairness and justice as they honor their Master in heaven (Colossians 4:1; Philemon 16).
As followers of Jesus who work in the marketplace, we’re called to rise to a higher purpose in our jobs. If we’re employees, unless we know a task is sinful, we should do the job we were hired to do—every task, every workday. Even if our jobs are dirty or seem to lack meaning, we should perform them with excellence and the right attitude. If we’re employers, we should create fair and just environments out of our reverence and love for Jesus.
In both roles, we’re missionaries on assignment—representing the Master.
More:
Read 1 Timothy 6:1-2 and Titus 2:9-10 to see more characteristics of a Christ-honoring employee.
Next:
How would you rank your attitude toward your job, fellow employees, and your employer? If you did your work for Jesus every day, what difference would it make in the output and quality of your labor?
Tyla808 on February 2, 2011 at 4:24 am
What a great post! Most people spend 6+ hours at their jobs a day. It can be said that because so many hours are spent at our jobs, sometimes more so than with our families and friends most of us are tested more at our place of employment than anywhere else.
Work/tasks, co-workers, vendors, partners, bosses, etc. can cause any well-meaning person to stress and lash out or feel menial and worthless or egotistic and aggressive.
I think it is a good reminder that the work that we do is not for the benefit of man but in honor of God. It is also our place of marketplace ministry as that is the one place that everyone watches us as Christians and the way we handle people and situations. We represent the gospel…this is the one place where Non-Christians can see the practicality of God’s Word…living through us, not just by us preaching to them.
Personally, it is so easy for me to forget – mandate, manner, and motivation of WHY I work and WHO I really work for.
I really enjoyed this post, I’m going to put “mandate, manner, and motivation” onto a post-it and place it on my computer monitor at work as a friendly reminder when I face any situation or person that would normally have me reacting in the flesh.
Thank you!
blackpearle on February 2, 2011 at 10:36 am
This post really spoke to my situation. I have been going through a very difficult work situation for the past year or so. I planned to leave a year ago and got promoted so I figured things would be ok.
Unfortunately, it has gotten progressively worse. In the past two weeks, it’s gotten so bad that I think the only right answer is to resign. I feel I have absolutely no place there. Our leadership team is not entirely “honest” to say it lightly, and there have been times when I’ve refused assignments simply because I didn’t want my name associated with something I knew to be wrong. The management team has not treated anyone as Paul would have them treat people, with fairness and justice and its extremely obvious. On top of all that, I don’t feel that my work there furthers God’s purpose for my life. Even before I was promoted I thought, how did I end up here, this is not what I thought my life would be?
In the midst of the troubled economy I have prayed and prayed for strength. I continue to give thanks for my job. I’m grateful. The fact of that matter is that I feel so out of place that I don’t even want to go in. And now this situation is beginning to affect my home life.
The only words my support team offer is to be thankful you have a job, or you’re just spoiled, things can’t always go your way. I considered the am I being spoiled line of thought. The fact is I am not. I feel like I can’t trust the leadership I’m mandated to submit to. I know I’m not treated fairly. And therefore, I’m having a huge problem working with them. I can’t find God’s work in what they do.
I know that we must all go through struggles to become better Christians, better people. I know that all things work according to God’s will. But I can’t help but wonder if, as a Child of God, shouldn’t I want more for myself? Shouldn’t I want to be surrounded with like-minded people?
So I sit here, I’ve taken yet another day off, applying for jobs, thinking of a plan…and I log in to find this post. I’m not convinced that I should go right in and quit. But at least I now have confirmation that what I’ve been feeling isn’t normal and that things are totally against what I know my life and work should be. Now I don’t feel so crazy or selfish or spoiled because things weren’t going my way. The reason I’ve wanted my way so bad is because clearly, that’s God’s way. It’s the way it should be. God is present. So, long story short…thank you for the post.
eppistle on February 2, 2011 at 11:13 am
Brother Lawrence, author of The Practice of the Presence of the Presence of God lived out these principles from Colossians 3:22-24. According to Wikipedia “For Brother Lawrence, common business,’ no matter how mundane or routine, could be a medium of God’s love. The sacredness or worldly status of a task mattered less than motivation behind it. ‘Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.’
Brother Lawrence felt having a proper heart about tasks made every detail of his life possess surpassing value. ‘I began to live as if there were no one save God and me in the world.’ Brother Lawrence felt that he cooked meals, ran errands, scrubbed pots, and endured the scorn of the world alongside God. One of his most famous sayings refers to his kitchen:
‘The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.'”
kadoshkudus on February 2, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Yes, we are trully tested when doing meaningless repeated jobs, when facing unfair boss … still we are reminded to do our job as to the Lord.
kadoshkudus on February 2, 2011 at 9:19 pm
In Ephesians 6:5-9 Paul says the same thing