Will you do this for me?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord. Colossians 3:23

I have often thought of today’s passage in the context of work and serving others, especially when the tasks seem to keep rolling in. When I become frustrated and impatient either with the task or the person, I say to myself, “Do it as if you were doing it for God.” That usually helps me to have a better attitude and helps me finish the task. But sometimes afterward I have felt a bit unappreciated, used, or even rejected for my efforts. It’s in those moments that I find myself thinking, “Jesus would never be unappreciative or unthankful and He certainly wouldn’t have treated me this way.” It’s also then that I become aware that my true motives were not what they should have been to begin with, even if I did quote scripture. My words were not fully matching my actions and intentions. I was doing the task with a mindset of getting something in return.

Today when I read that same passage in my devotional, the Lord gave me a much better perspetive. Instead of thinking that I’m doing an act of service as if it was for the Lord Himself, I should think of it as if He has asked me, “Will you do this for my son/daughter…….. he/she needs this.” It makes the act of service or kindness on behalf of God. I have been given the privilege of doing something for God that benefits someone else. Their response is not my concern. My only concern should be doing whatever the Lord has asked me to do, knowing it is the Lord who has already provided a way for it to be done. His is inviting me to work along side of Him.

I know that whatever I do to the least of these I’ve done the same to God. But this I believe is going deeper. It’s not like God is asking me to do a favor for Him because God owes me nothing, I’m the one completely in His debt. These acts of service are not payments towards that debt either. They are done because I love God and His Word tells us that if we love Him, we will obey Him.

My service to others should be from a heart that desires to serve God alone, whether it is at my job, for my family, friends, neighbors or strangers. Each opportunity, taken with the right Godly perspective, will insure that my motives are correct and honor God. From that same Godly perspective I will be better able to see the needs of others and regardless of their response, I will be able to rest in the peace of knowing that I’m loving my God and loving others.

Lord, I thank you for giving me a proper perspetive on doing all things as if doing them for You. Thank you for including me in Your work and I pray that my heart and mind with match Your words that I speak. In Jesus’ name, amen.