Whatever You Do
Scripture Reading — Colossians 3:12-17
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The other day I heard someone ask another person, "What do you do?" The person answered by saying, "Oh, I'm just a housewife." Perhaps you too have heard someone say, "I'm just a farmer," or "I'm just a secretary," or "I'm just a factory worker," or "I'm just a country preacher." In any culture we have our rankings, and our sense of worth is often measured by the work we do. The more impressive your career, the more "important" you are. Celebrities especially get lots of attention when something happens in their lives.
Thankfully the Bible does not measure our worth by how high we have climbed the social ladder or how much education we have. In today's verse we read, "Whatever you do . . . do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus." When life on earth comes to an end, what matters is not how high we climbed, but whether we were faithful to the Lord in whatever calling we pursued. What counts is whether we clothed ourselves with compassion, humility, patience, and other fruitful signs of Christ's work in our lives.
My father was a farm laborer most of his life. He never served on a board or received recognition. But he was faithful in his calling, and he served the Lord as he raised his family. Whatever he did, he tried to do it in the name of the Lord. And that's what counts!
Father in heaven, make each one of us faithful in our calling, and help us to do all things “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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