How’s your outlook today? Are you gazing at your to do list with joy and determination or dreading the tasks ahead? Join me today as I remind myself that ‘Every act of service is worship.” Kind of puts a new spin on things, doesn’t it?
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and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:6-7 – ESV
Last week, I introduced you to my Roomba, the robotic vacuum cleaner that I affectionately call “Reggie.” As I pondered my words for this week, I decided that I had a few more Reggie stories in me.
As I mentioned last week, you can program the Roomba to start automatically at a certain time on any given day of the week. Since I like the feel of clean floors under my bare toes, Reggie is programmed for duty at 8am Monday through Friday. Like clockwork, Reggie turns himself on at 8am on the dot, emits his “Beep, beep, beep, and backs up off his charger. He begins his clean up duties, moving from room to room in a well choreographed pattern. He makes three passes in each room, once side to side, then lengthwise, and finally edging along the baseboards. He is quite a diligent worker, on the move for 75 minutes before taking a break at which time he returns to his charging station, climbs up on the charger and takes his 45 minute nap. At exactly 10am, he wakes up and returns to work.
The thing that cracks me up even after three years of service is the little sound Reggie makes when he finishes his work for the day. Returning home, he climbs up on the charger and chimes out, “To do to doo!” It’s a merry little jingle packed full of joy as if he is ever so proud to have accomplished his assigned duties. Reggie offers up his song of celebration for a job well done.
Yes, I know. I am talking about a robotic vacuum cleaner. I know I have given the device human characteristics, but it’s just that he is so awfully cute as he moves from room to room happily performing his act of service. Would that all us humans approached our work with the same enthusiasm and diligence!
Let me say it again. Every act of service is worship. At least it can be, if our hearts and minds are focused in the right direction. As we do our duties, we can offer our labor for the glory of God.
There is joy in true worship, and there can be joy in service. Like Reggie with his celebratory tune, we can sing or shout with joy for a job well done, an act of service that glorifies God.
The world would tell you that there is joy in money, power or entertainment, but those things don’t bring real joy, only a cheap imitation. True joy comes from The Lord. We feel it through acts of worship and service.
So what about you? Do you find joy in the work you have been given to do? Maybe you don’t love your job, but if you do it well, if you offer up the right attitude about your assigned tasks, then that work can become service, and that service can become worship.
As we begin our work day or start our morning household tasks, let’s adjust our attitudes. Let’s reframe our thinking, taking our assigned tasks and offering them to God as acts of service, as opportunities for worship. May that worship bring forth joy, real joy that comes from Jesus. Perhaps then we too will find ourselves singing a song of celebration to the glory of our God!
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rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
Ephesians 6:7 – ESV
PRAYER
O Lord God, thank You for the good work You have given us to do, for it is our way of serving You. Put a song of gladness in our hearts. Give us a fresh perspective to view our daily tasks as opportunities to serve You, not as dreaded chores. Bless our spiritual gifts and talents that they might be used to bring You glory. Whatever work we do, let us do it for You!
Faith Beyond Sight 