Whatever you do,
 work at it with all your heart,
 as working for the Lord,
 not for men.
Colossians 3:23

It’s hard to overstate the value of a strong work ethic. No matter the arena—workplace, athletic field, ministry, or home front—a strong work ethic distinguishes the industrious from the lazy, the committed from the complacent, and the motivated from the disengaged.

For the stay-at-home mom, the days we work diligently leave us feeling satisfied when our heads hit the pillow: the laundry is caught up, the kitchen sink is empty, and the bathrooms are sparkling.

Instilling a strong work ethic in our children sets them up for success in life. Those who work hard normally have greater job security, higher wages, and more promotions in the workplace.

Diligence can even compensate for a lack of natural ability. My husband is a college professor. More than once, he has commented he would much prefer an average student who works hard, over a student who is gifted but lazy.

We may not all have the same natural abilities, but we all can choose to buckle down and work hard.

It’s part of our job as parents to begin early on, training our children to develop responsible work habits. I often told my children that completing a task without being reminded to do so is a mark of maturity. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me, and my husband and I intentionally cultivated that in our own children.

A stellar GPA, a good salary, a promotion in the workplace, a well-managed home … these are all worthy goals, and fitting rewards for hard work. But as followers of Christ, those should be the by-product—not the end goal—of demonstrating a strong work ethic.

A stellar GPA, a good salary, a promotion in the workplace, a well-managed home ... these are all worthy goals, and fitting rewards for hard work. But as followers of Christ, those should be the by-product—not the end goal—of demonstrating a… Click To Tweet

Look at the list again: a stellar GPA, a good salary, a promotion, a well-managed home. Each of those is not bad in and of itself, but any one of them can certainly result in pride, shifting the spotlight onto SELF. Our why for working hard must be bigger than ourselves or any rewards that flow back to us.

 Our work should be for the glory of God. Let’s unpack Paul’s challenge in Colossians 3:23 phrase by phrase:

• Whatever you do (“Whatever” encompasses completing a homework assignment, mowing the grass, or selling insurance.)
• work at it (Don’t play at it or just get around to it.)
• with all your heart (all in, nothing held back)
• as working for the Lord (God is our Master. Our lives no longer belong to us, we are His.)
• not for men. (Our calling is higher than mere human service.)

As we seek to serve Jesus in all we do, our daily tasks are transformed to acts of service and living sacrifice. Our diligence can even become evangelistic, as others take note.

Our work ethic should reflect the reason for our existence: to glorify God. Paul complements the truth of Colossians 3:23 in I Corinthians 10:31: ” So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

Our work ethic should reflect the reason for our existence: to glorify God. Click To Tweet

It’s good to work. It’s better to know our why for the work we do. May we commit to make every task not just work, but actually worship, as we do it all for the glory of our great God!

 

Our printable February 2018 ‘Do It’ List can help you work with a plan,
simplifying household management and making your time more productive.
Download it here.