Since then, I’ve not had to work outside my home and any money earned is from being self-employed, yet I can relate to today’s devotional reading. As it says, my boss is not a person and not even me, but the Lord Jesus Christ.
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. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Ephesians 6:5–9)Piper says whatever I’m asked to do by a supervisor should generally be viewed as an appeal from the Lord. Back then at my job, I didn’t know the Lord, but I can see now how He used that job experience to teach me to be loyal and work hard. The Bible addresses any complaining I might have made then with this:
Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. (1 Peter 2:18–19)And the Ephesians passage says that God actually takes care of the raise in pay, not that He gives more money for doing good work but that He blesses those who do their best because the work is done in faith. In other words, this attitude of respect and being gracious to those in authority over me comes from Him, so any goodness is from Him, done in the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Those who live that way know that no other reward is needed! Living for the Lord and for His glory is its own blessing. As Jesus said:
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)The challenge for me is letting my light shine so others can see it in such a way that God is glorified. This is an often misunderstood concept. Usually, when myself or others are praised, it is a pat on the back. However, at a conference I praised the organizer and she said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) That was a pleasant surprise and a response to emulate. It is very easy to take credit and rob the rightful One to which it is due.
LORD: How easy to work for human praise. I’ve been criticized for not ‘showing off’ my work by those who do not understand why I avoid self-glory. At the same time, You make me aware that I should never avoid good works — as long as I remember and do them in the ability You give. You say to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10) I also need to leave all misinterpretations in Your hands and refuse to lift up my hands to pat myself on the back.
