Did you have a busy day today? Well – I guess that’s actually a “loaded question” because the answer depends on what you consider to be busy. A store which normally has one to two customers a day may deem five customers in one day a very busy day. I get asked many times a day by our employees, “How are you doing, Mrs. Courtney?” I usually respond, “I’m busy working.” Today it dawned on me once again that not everyone has the same work ethic that I have. Some are busy working while others may just be working to look busy. There is a difference. Do you remember the story about the farmer who was trying to hire a part-time laborer. Even though the boy wanted a full-time job, the farmer tried to explain that there just wasn’t enough work to keep someone busy. The boy then responded, “But you don’t know how little it takes to keep me busy!” And, that my friends is the sad truth.
Work is is one of the original “four letter words” for we know that God worked in the beginning by creating our beautiful world. Adam was given the job to work by taking care of the Garden of Eden. David worked as a shepherd, starting at a very young age. Jesus reminded His mother of the importance of His life’s work when He was found in the temple at age 12, saying, “How is it that ye sought me? know ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Jesus encouraged His apostles in John 9:4 when He said, “We must work the works of Him that send Me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.” We must take the opportunities to “do what needs to be done” when we have them, for sure enough, it just might rain the next day and your work will never be completed.
One of the greatest compliments given in the Bible was by Jesus to Mary after she broke the alabaster box and anointed his head with precious ointment. When those around murmured against her, Jesus said, “Let her alone, why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. . . .She hath done what she could.” (Mark 14:5-6; 8a). She took advantage of the opportunity of anointing His body before burial. A few days later – it would have been too late. I jokingly ask my employees, “Are you working hard or are you hardly working?” Would others say that you are a “hard worker?”
The church in Colossae was told, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord: (Colossians 3:23). May you do what you can for the Lord. Simply blessed, Courtney