A young fellow applied for a job furnishing references from his minister and Sunday school teacher. “These are good,” said the interviewer, “but we’d like a letter from someone who knows you on weekdays too!”
What the world wants to know about our Christianity is whether it works on weekdays as well as weekends. Does it affect the way we work as well as the way we worship?
The Lord shares this concern and speaks clearly of our responsibility as Christian workers in Colossians 3:22-4:1. How are we to go about our work as Christians?
First, we are to work diligently at all times. Several years ago hockey legend Gordie Howe had some advice for a young rookie named Wayne Gretzky: “No matter how much you make, get out there and earn it.” Every Christian worker needs to work with that kind of diligence, whether the boss is watching or not.
Second, we are to work religiously. Dr. Crawford W. Long who discovered sulfur-ether and its value in surgery once said, “My profession is, to me, a ministry for God.” Every Christian needs to look upon his profession in that light. We should not look upon our occupation as just a way to make money. It is a way to serve God.
Third, do your work respectfully. Christian employers should always be just and fair and never treat employees as things, but as people. When Zaccheus met Jesus, he immediately corrected the way he performed his job. It should be the same with all of us. Think about these things this week at work.