CHARACTER PROFILE: YOUR WORK ETHIC, PART 3
Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men . . . .-Colossians 3:22-23 (NKJV)
What kind of worker are you? I've discovered that there are different types of workers in this world who tend to fall into the following categories.
There's Lazy Larry. He's always trying to get by with doing as little work as possible.
Lazy Larry will put on a good show whenever the boss is around, but as soon as the coast is clear, he's back on the Internet or chatting with friends.
Then there is Calm Carol. She isn't lazy, but her pace is pokey. Calm Carol works consistently, but she never elevates her efforts when the situation calls for some extra hustle. When her checkout line is ten deep with customers, she still moves at her calm and leisurely pace.
We also have Emotional Earl. He has a hard time handling his emotions whenever he's asked to go above the call of duty. Why do I always have to work the late shift? When are the other people around here going to start pulling their weight? Everything is such a big deal for Emotional Earl that his peers tend to avoid him.
And we can't forget Overcharged Ollie. He's so hyper that he doesn't follow directions. Overcharged Ollie means well, but because he can't stay focused, he can't be depended upon.
So what kind of worker are you?
Are you one of the above? Or, are you a Christ-like Christian? Does your character lead you to always do your best, fill you with added enthusiasm when the occasion calls for it, enable you to handle extra pressures, and allow you to be attentive and focused on the task at hand?
My prayer is that all Christians would fall into this category as they work unto the Lord with all their hearts.
Discuss with your group the importance of working for the Lord rather than for people. Share how your faith has inspired you to do your best at work—even when your boss is not watching!
Dig into Colossians 3:22–23. What are the conditions presented in this verse? According to this Scripture, how should we go about our work? Whose reputation is at stake? If we are motivated by the right reason, what would be the result of our work?
Decide as a group to pray for those with whom we co-labor in our workplace. Spend a few moments in prayer asking God to do His work in their hearts as we work along side them with our hands.
