School has started and our family has a high schooler once again, only this time a grandchild. My mind has gone back to the days when our own children were in high school.
Those years were filled with choices, decisions, and lots of paperwork. Many questions were asked time and time again …
- “What do you want to do after school?”
- “Is there a career you want to pursue?”
- “What are you interested in?”
- “What is the path you want to go?”
The focus was centered on what was it one wanted to “do” as a job, as a vocation, when school was completed.
While the doing is important in life, perhaps we are missing a more important question which should be asked: “Who do want to be?”
It was Paul’s words as found in Colossians which provoked my thoughts recently:
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”
(Colossians 3:17, NASB)
He must have been concerned we would miss his point as he again repeated his words:
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people.”
(Colossians 3:23, NASB)
It’s as if Paul is saying: It doesn’t matter what you are doing in life, do it as unto the Lord and not people. Work hard and give thanks.
Another wise man gives us this insight to consider:
“So I considered
all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had
exerted,
and behold, all was futility and striving after wind, and there
was no benefit under the sun.”
(Ecclesiastes 2:11, NASB)
Basically Solomon is telling us, “Do what counts, all else is for naught.”
It doesn’t matter what we are doing in life, we each are called to do it with the same attitude. Our attitude will stem from our being, who we are.
So who are we to “be”?
“See that no one repays another with evil for evil,
but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:15, NASB)
We are to be kind people, those who are seeking the good for one another. Let’s be considerate, sincere, gentle, and genuine.
The Lord is honored when our being is genuinely reflected in our doing.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.”
(Francis of Assisi)
How can we better align our character (our being) so the Lord is reflected in all we do?
Photo by Laura Rivera on Unsplash
I love that scripture - I've often wondered that maybe our children's journey to "discover what they want to do" is something foreign to the children of Jesus' time, who were born into a trade. I'm sure there are those that wanted to break out of the job they were born into, but I wonder if there were more who were content, and so instead of focusing on self-discovery, they could focus on worship?
ReplyDeleteGod has us on the same wave length. This goes so well with what He laid on my heart about our highest calling. “Do what counts, all else is for naught,” and do it as unto Him.
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