Bible Society of South Africa
Neville Turley

Preserved in Jesus Christ – Day 1

Working for Jesus

Bible text(s)

Colossians 3

23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for human beings. 24Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.

Colossians 3:23-24GNBOpen in Bible reader

Luke 5

5“Master,” Simon answered, “we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break.

Luke 5:5-6GNBOpen in Bible reader

Galatians 5

15But if you act like wild animals, hurting and harming each other, then watch out, or you will completely destroy one another.

Galatians 5:15GNBOpen in Bible reader

John F Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States of America on 20 January 1961. He will forever be remembered by one sentence in his inauguration speech: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Why not adapt it to your own work situation?

“Ask not what your employer can do for you, ask what you can do for your employer.”

Our Bible text tells us that it does not matter what we do but how we do it. In other words, we should approach our duties passionately with all our heart.

It is not easy to keep motivated and enthusiastic, putting up with all the hassles and stress that comes with every job. Simon (Peter) experienced the same work frustrations.

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and have not caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5:5-6

We can learn from this even when we work hard for no success, we must continue to persevere – we must let down the net again! We must continue trying and striving.

Paul had a word of warning for those who indulge in office politics: “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Galatians 5:15

As Christians, we must remember that no matter how tough our work situation gets, ultimately, we are not working for men but for the Lord – and our God will not be indebted to anyone.

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