as working for the Lord, not for men . . .
It is the Lord Christ you are serving
Colossians 3: 23-24
When no one looking. It's tempting to cheat. Maybe you wouldn't even call it cheating. Maybe you'd just call it slacking, or easing off.
But to make a habit of slacking is to lose the joy in your work. Doing a job right makes you feel good, because I made you to enjoy hard work to enjoy doing your best.
So don't work hard because you think I'm standing over you cracking the whip. I'm not. Don't even work hard go please other people. Do your best whether people are watching you or not. Then when your boss or teacher does pop in unexpectedly, they'll wonder why you're working so hard. But we'll know why. I'll be our secret.
Is ambition wrong? Is it wrong to be driven. To push to be the best? It can be. The difference between right and wrong ambition is in our goal and motivation whether it's for God's Glory or our own.
In 1 Thesalonians 4:1. Paul tells us that christian are to live to please God." For some, the drive go please Him is an instant transformation st the time of salvation; for others, the transformstion is full of shuttered steps and mis-starts. Whether the change happens instantly or gradually. The christian is to pursue God's goals. Not selfish ones.
So, in the workplace we ask: "how will that job change help me serve others and glorify God?"
Ambition oriented toward God is focused outward on Him and others, always asking how He has gifted us and wants to use us.
Paul suggests we work with "sincerity of heart, fearing God (Col. 3:22). Whatever we're doing in the board room. On the docks, whatever we're working we're to serve as if doing it for God (vv.23-24).
We glorify Him most and enjoy Him most when we work with fevor and excellence for His pleasure, not ours. For His service and the service of others, not self-service and personal gain because He deserves our all
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