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PROGRAM D-8393
Do you have a hard time making yourself go to work each day because you hate your job? As believers in the marketplace, we need to show an attitude toward our jobs which is different from non-believers’. Whether we like our jobs or not, we should learn to be content with those jobs as long as we have them.
Paul wrote to the Philippians that he had learned to be content in any circumstance, and we can learn it, too. So, if you want to enroll in Contentment 101, here’s the next lesson to learn: Work for recognition and reward—but not earthly recognition and reward!
The reality of most work environments is that expressions of appreciation and recognition are often few and far between. If you hate your job because you never get the recognition or appreciation you deserve, I’ve got great news for you. You can be content with that job you hate because when you work for the Lord, Colossians 3 says that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
You see, God has a recognition and incentive program better than any employer could ever dream up! If you perform your everyday work duties as unto him, you’re going to be recognized and rewarded by the Lord—whether your employer ever appreciates you or not.
So, if you’re not receiving the earthly rewards you deserve, rejoice to know that you can be assured of a heavenly reward. If you’re doing a good job and nobody says, “thank you,” just remember that someday you’ll get the “thank you” you deserve from a higher level of management. That is, of course, if you’re working for Jesus and not for people.
In Matthew 6, Jesus said that if we desire the rewards of men, we may miss out on God’s reward. If our whole motivation is to be recognized and rewarded here on earth, then we’ll hate most jobs we have because rarely is recognition or reward fairly given in this world. Working for earthly rewards will poison our motives and keep us from receiving God’s heavenly rewards.
If you’re in a job you hate, you can learn to be content if you will live in the knowledge that your recognition and reward is coming from God. It’s a big change of attitude, but the Holy Spirit has the power to make that change inside of you if you give him that permission. I pray you will.