Enthusiasm

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3:23

I have carried this verse in my work folder for over ten years now. I was always taught to work. My dad was one of the hardest workers I have ever seen. He wanted that from us too. But as you get older you realize that your effort to work can get overtaken by the details of life. If my boss is an unbeliever, or worse, if they are a believer but treat me like I am disposable, motivation can wane. I can be totally committed to a job but I have never had a boss who has been asked to die for me. And even if they did, my boss can’t rise for me. However, if I remember that I am ultimately working for God, motivation stays in better perspective.

My jobs now are all self-employed. If I don’t work hard, I don’t get paid. Sometimes when I do work hard I still don’t but that’s a different story. This week I have been challenged by the question of enthusiasm, which is different than motivation. I have the ability to work hard, but how enthused am I?

This week my wife and I received a phone call from a young lady we have known for probably 15 years. She recently graduated from college and wanted to tell us what she was up to. The back story for this person is that she came to know the Lord as a result of attending a memorial service after our daughter died. This is almost ten years ago now. I knew her story of finding God, but not much else.

This young lady proceeded to tell us about her life. Her struggles, her victories, her friends – her calling. She is DRIVEN to reach young people on college campuses. She is part of an organized effort to do so. She has committed to living next to a campus for the next four years and remain part of a multi-faceted approach to reaching people from all around the country. Some who enter college have absolutely zero exposure to a walk with God. That’s where she will come in.

A couple of things were clear as she was talking. First, she needed support, prayerfully and financially. She never once asked us for money but we asked her about it. She never once talked about how her next four years would be supported, but we asked her about it. The other thing that was clear is that her passion for the calling God gave her was extreme. Called. Convicted. Contagious.

We have no doubt people who meet her will be drawn to her. No one will question whether she is authentic. We wanted to spend more time with her and we are way too old to be her target. She hit it anyway. This young woman appears afraid of nothing and is ready to get to work. It reminded us of our own daughters. Jordy could connect with literally anyone and Aly is honestly just as passionate about her calling as this young lady. Knowing that a memorial service for Jordy was where this particular fire got started is frankly both an anvil and a bonus. We will concentrate on the bonus.

If got me thinking. Does anyone know what I am passionate about? Do I have an obvious calling to which I am totally committed? Do the people around me think I am enthused? God has a calling – a purpose - for all of us, that much is without question. We get it wrong when we think He calls some to serve in full time ministry and others are on standby. Wherever you are, God has something for you – to receive or to do for Him.

What fires you up? Does anyone around you know that? If not, why?

Does my to do list reflect an awareness of Gods perspective?

Challenge: Remind yourself who the boss really is. Then just like if you won the lottery, go to work with a completely different attitude.

Rick Claiborn