Secular Work as a Christian Ministry

 Christians should insist on excellence because their work is   ultimately done for God and can be seen as an act of worship. An      example from history of a Christian person who understood this is    Brother Lawrence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Lawrence

 

The insistence for excellence, however, has to be tempered with humility so that it never tips over into toxic arrogant perfectionism. That becomes the sin of elevation of the self above God.

 

Biblical passages which exhibit this idea include Colossians 3:23-24, Proverbs 22:29, and Philippians 4:8.

 

The modern trend is to let things slide, to get by on less, on giving less effort and personal involvement to a situation, not allowing a responsibility to interfere too much with our personal interests. This is sometimes called quiet quitting, doing just enough to not be unpleasantly noticed. This happens even in our churches.

 

The cafeteria in the hospital where I worked before my retirement started exhibiting a symptom of the times in which we live. Suddenly one day, everything was gone: coffee creamer, sweeteners, salt, pepper, ketchup (catsup if you insist), mayonnaise, and mustard.

The cafeteria said that customers could still have these items

but would have to specifically ask for them. Some of the “less sophisticated” (patronizingly read “old” or “rural”) customers seemed to be totally bewildered by this.

 

The hospital cafeteria is a contract service with a commercial restaurant chain which seems to have lost sight of the traditional service provider-customer relationship. Until recently, even though the cafeteria long ago quit washing dishes and began using only plastic plates and utensils, they still seemed to realize that the strict bottom line was ranked lower than providing quality customer service. Condiments, spices, sauces, and other items were understood to be included in the price of the food items being sold.

Yes, I saw some people abusing their customer rights and stuffing things like ketchup packages and napkins into their purses and pockets, but petty theft by an unscrupulous few isn’t enough justification to punish the many who play by the rules.

The only reason the cafeteria doesn’t suffer a customer backlash is that the client base is transient and, at the same time, captive. The choices are leave the hospital to get food, order from a delivery service, eat in the the cafeteria, or resort to the cracker and peanut machines.

At least plastic plates and cutlery are still provided. It would be really messy to eat spaghetti with your fingers.     

What if You Suddenly Died?

             

        Several years ago, a woman at the place of my employment received a devastating telephone call. Her husband was killed in an automobile accident while travelling for a work assignment. The woman was absent from work for about a week for bereavement and funeral leave.

        When she returned to work, she was still obviously very withdrawn and possibly in a state of depression. Unlike some, she was willing to talk. After relaying my sympathies to her, what I said next seems to have greatly improved her mood. 

        I told her that she could be proud that, when her husband died, he was where he was supposed to have been and was doing what he was supposed to have been doing.  He was a man of honor, fulfilling his responsibilities.  His wife smiled.

        If you had a sudden massive heart attack and died on the spot, what would you want your wife and children to be told? That you died on your way to a scheduled business meeting or that you lied to them and died while having sex with a prostitute?

Just a Day at Work

Watch what happened at this photography processing shop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AnMlQNw1M8&annotation_id=annotation_709575&feature=iv

Ashton Kucher on Work, Manhood, and Conformity

This is surprisingly profound advice from a person whose public persona is as an intellectual lightweight.  The three ideas which Ashton Kucher presents in his short speech have parallels in Christianity. 

1.     Work is ennobling.  Kucher’s  best line is “opportunities look a lot like work.”  A Christian who is focused on Jesus will pay attention to details and will not take shortcuts which damage the quality of their work. You, the Christian, may not think that driving a cab, or cooking, or kicking a soccer ball is holy but that is what holiness means, separated for God, dedicated for God.  When ordinary work is done for God, it becomes holy.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

In Genesis 2:2, God’s activities in Creation are called “work.”  Genesis 2:15 says that man was created to work the earth.

2.     Kucher says that the traits of intelligence, generosity, and thoughtfulness in a man are “sexy” and that “everything else is crap.” The mature Christian man understands this.  Do not allow the world to confine you with its definitions of who you should be.  Be the Christ-like man into whom God is sanctifying you.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8

The King James Version translates συλαγωγῶν as “spoil.”  It more accurately is “to carry off as spoil,” as in a treasure stolen by the victors in a battle. The New International Version translates the word as “takes you captive.”

3.     You do not have to be a sheep, living as the world tells you to.  Kusher is telling his listeners that they do not have to slavishly fit in, they do not have to follow the crowd.  Where this falls short of the Christian standard is in setting the ultimate standard as one’s own self.  The standard for the Christian is Jesus.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

Ashton Kuchner was raised in a Roman Catholic family but has said, "I try not to have religious beliefs.”  He is currently a student of the Kabbalah.

Whatever You Do ...

Nick Saban, the coach of the University of Alabama football team insists on only the best from his players.  Those players who do not play to their best level of ability are asked to sit down and others are brought forward to replace them.  Saban’s players almost unanimously credit him with teaching them how to be men and how to approach the rest of their lives after football.

One of the things which Saban teaches the young men is to approach each event as if it is the most important event ever.  He uses the example of the professional basketball player, Michael Jordan.  Saban has said of Jordan that “It doesn’t matter how many game-winning shots he’s made in the past.  The only one that matters is the one he’s about to take.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAr6oAKieHk

I have spoken in the past that Christians should approach their lives as a quest for excellence for God. This is what the layman cook and shoe repairer, Brother Lawrence, did.  When he washed dishes, he washed the dishes for God.  When he repaired the sole of a shoe, he repaired the shoe for God.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

God Expects Us to Work

“God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into the nest.” J. G. Holland

Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881) was an American novelist, poet, magazine editor, physician, and Methodist hymn lyricist.

God expects us to work.

““Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.  To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.  The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.  So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.  But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

   “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.  The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’

  His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’

       “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

  “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.   So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?  Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

    “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.  For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.  And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” Matthew 25:14-30

” Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”  1 Corinthians 4:2