Editor's note: Enjoy today's devotion from Walking the Line: 90 Devotions of Truth & Hope Based on the Faith of Johnny Cash by Johnny Cash.
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We work for God because we love Him and we want to, not because we are forced to. ~ Johnny Cash
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. — Colossians 3:23–24 ESV
Johnny Cash was no stranger to hard work. He recognized work for the blessing it is—in his music and in his walk with Christ. Our ability to work, and our responsibility to work, lies at the core of our being. Look at the creation account in Genesis 2. God created man (verse 7). Then God planted the garden of Eden (verses 8–14).
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. — verse 15 ESV
No sooner had God’s Spirit filled our nostrils with our first breath than we had a job to do. A work ethic is hardwired into our system. Remember, too, that this was before sin ruined everything. This was God’s original, perfect plan for humankind. He designed us to find fulfillment in our work.
Johnny Cash alludes to the truth that our work should reflect our Creator. Our work ethic isn’t tied to paychecks, good reviews, or job satisfaction. Our work gives us the opportunity to draw attention to the God we serve. When we do our work with integrity—giving our best effort, being supportive of the people we work with, going above and beyond our responsibilities—we earn the respect of our coworkers and managers. We also create an opportunity to talk to them about what makes us different.
One of the more amazing aspects of working to honor God is seeing what He can do with what we do.
God blesses our efforts by magnifying them in ways we can’t imagine.
Think of the boy who carried a basket of loaves and fish to the remote area where Jesus had retreated. The Lord magnified his work by feeding five thousand people with his meager provisions. The young man had no idea that his work of lugging the food a considerable distance would yield such dramatic results. The same goes for our work. Every job we perform with a sense of integrity and a desire to honor God is like a pebble dropped into a still pond. We have no idea how far the ripples will extend. When we approach our work the right way, we offer a powerful testimony.
The sense of fulfillment that comes from finishing our work is God’s gift to us. Doing quality work makes us feel essential and productive. When our work involves our spiritual gifts—the unique talents and abilities given to us by God’s Holy Spirit—our feelings of fulfillment are magnified. And because our work pleases God, it strengthens our relationship with Him.
Still, God offers even more incentive to would-be workers. In Matthew 25, Jesus shares a parable about three servants. The first two servants work hard to maximize what has been given to them for the sake of their master. And their master says to each of them,
Well done, my good and faithful servant... Let’s celebrate together! — verses 21, 23 NLT
The same celebration awaits us, if we pursue a godly attitude toward work.
Heavenly Father, thank You for creating us with a purpose. Thank You for helping us find meaning in work. Help me maintain an attitude toward work that honors You. Give me the wisdom to recognize work that is worth my time and energy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Excerpted with permission from Walking the Line: 90 Devotions of Truth & Hope Based on the Faith of Johnny Cash by Johnny Cash, copyright The John R. Cash Revocable Trust.
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Your Turn
Work wasn’t part of the curse after the Fall; work was always God’s good plan for us! Let’s launch today ready to honor God in all that we do knowing that He will bless us as we work with a godly attitude. ~ Devotionals Daily