Working for the Lord
Dr. Charles Stanley

When I was a boy, I used to get up at 5 AM to deliver newspapers. It wasalways pitch black outside. Sometimes it would be very cold, raining, oreven snowing heavily. I remember lying in my comfortable bed and tellingGod how much I dreaded going outside. I didn't want to get wet. I didn'twant to be cold. Worse yet, I was afraid of the dark! Yet God worked in my heart to help me see the situation differently. Ibegan to say, ?I'm not delivering these newspapers for my customers. I'mdoing it for Jesus. He's going to receive this paper.?

Suddenly my attitude turned around. I would get started no matter whatthe time or weather! In my own childish way, I had stumbled on thesecret of success in the Christian life, the key to fruitful service:Whatever you are doing, do it as if you are doing it for the Lord.

In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, Paul tells us ?With good will renderservice, as to the Lord, and not to men...? In Colossians 3:23, he saysit again: ?Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord ratherthan for men...?

In other words, it doesn't matter if you are leading a corporation ormopping its floors-you are called to serve God in and through everythingyou do. Once you adopt this attitude, once you learn to focus on Whomyou are serving instead of what you are doing, amazing changes willhappen:

?The quality of your work will improve. After all, now you are notworking for an earthly boss, but for your Father in heaven.?You will be protected from discouragement. It does not matter whetheror not you've been complimented or thanked for your work-because youalready know how much He approves of you and loves you.?You will grow in self-esteem. We all have a need to feel competent,important and worthy. God always rewards us for our service with a senseof satisfaction and belonging we will not find any other way.?You will not be afraid to fail. In fact, when we serve God we cannotfail because true service is not something we do for God, but rathersomething God does through us.

In First Thessalonians 5:24, Paul says, ?Faithful is He who calls you,and He also will bring it to pass.? God assumes full responsibility forenabling us to carry out the work He's called us to do, whatever thatmay be!

This truth provides us with incredible comfort. It certainly is to me.Consider that In Touch Ministries is preaching the Gospel in more than100 languages to millions of people around the world every day. If Ithought for one moment that I had to accomplish this in my own strength,we would be in real trouble! The truth is that you and I should neverfeel pressured to accomplish great things for God-it is up to Him toaccomplish great things through us!

I'll never forget the job I had during my seminary years. I mopped andswept the floor in a food shop. Parts of it-especially the area behindthe meat counter-were a real mess. I didn't like the working conditions,and for the first few days my heart was full of complaints. Eventually Irealized that complaining wasn't going to help. I decided to approachthe job just as I had when I was a young paperboy. I decided I wassweeping for Jesus. One day I was sweeping near my boss when he turnedto someone and said, ?Don't get in Stanley's way. He'll sweep you rightout of the store!? I may have been cleaning floors, but I was motivated,I was fulfilled, I was dedicated to doing a great job!

My friend, I challenge you to do everything as unto the Lord. When youclean your home, clean it as if Christ lived there. When you prepare ameal, imagine that the Lord is sitting at your table. When you serve aclient or customer, behave as if that customer was Jesus. If you takethis simple step, it will be one of the most rewarding changes of yourlife.