How often is it that we take on tasks and just work to complete them without a clear motivation or purpose? I believe this is the case a good amount of the time. The thing is this is not the proper way to approach things according to God’s Word.

“⁵Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ⁶not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, ⁸knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. ⁹Masters, 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 (ESV)

In the above passage we find Paul’s instruction to the church at Ephesus as relates to those serving others and those they are serving. We find that regardless of the position we are in, whether bondservant or master, we are to approach the work from the heart as we would in our service of the LORD.

I have studied this passage a number of times and each time the learning for me is about the service itself and that we are picked for the service where we are and that work is God centered. But this morning I see the work is to be both of those things and yet it comes from the heart. I am to commit to the work for the my LORD and savior as well as my earthly master in the same way, from the heart and fully devout to that work. Even as the earthly master, we are to commit the work from the heart and for the glory of the LORD and not for our own reward.

I think that too often we look at “work” in the world as that thing that is to be done, and not really enjoyed, when according to the Word of God, we are to do the work from the heart with the same intensity that we do work for the LORD. We are to devote to the work from our heart regardless of who that work is for in the moment.

I know that when I am focused of doing work, I find that time moves quickly and when I reach the end, there is a sense of satisfaction with the work. All to say that when I am concerned with who assigned the work or what is in it for others and carry animosity for the work, it seems that time stands still and the work never ends.

The approach we should have is one of doing the work from our heart to ultimately bring glory to God. Yes, we do have to engage in actions that positively impact others and less so for ourselves. But, those actions, when conducted from the heart are a gift to others and will be rewarded in heaven as we are recognized as good and faithful servants of the LORD.

Where does your attitude for work come from? Are you doing the work with animosity and anger as others seem to benefit from it? What if you approached the work with love from the heart knowing that your reward is coming in our forever home, heaven?