All on the Field: A Good Farmer—Having a Good Work Ethic - Monday
1 Corinthians 15:58b
Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (NLT)
“Morning, Connor!”
“Morning, Kev.” I grumbled softly. It wasn’t that I didn’t like seeing him—it was 5am, and I didn’t like seeing anyone. But every summer, it was always the same: Drag my sixteen-year-old self out of bed, drive out to the farm, load up a giant box truck full of produce, and navigate it through the busy intersections of downtown Lexington. The farmer’s market took no prisoners.
Dragging my feet into the barn, Kevan was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He’d been up for hours and had already done half of my work for me. “I loaded up some extra tomatoes for ya! See if you can move ‘em,” he grinned hopefully. Despite the toll farm life had taken on his body, his spirit was never anything but upbeat. Turning onto Newtown Pike, I knew it would be a long day. I would spend the next several hours selling whatever I had, all while hearing about how much cheaper corn was at Kroger. (Then why don’t you just go there, Karen?) But my workload was nothing compared to what Kevan’s day would bring.
I would clock out that afternoon around 1pm, but Kevan would never clock out. I bagged vegetables for customers and faked a smile. Kevan picked vegetables and smiled. Warm or cold, rain or shine, harvest or drought—Kevan put his heart and soul into everything he did. But what made the biggest impression on me was that he did it with joy.
The Apostle Paul tells us that nothing we do for the Lord is ever useless. We’d like to think this verse only applies to full-time ministers of the gospel like him, but most of us won’t be writing sermons or preaching funerals today. However, a good portion of us will do some form of work. Maybe it’s bussing tables or cutting hair, or simply cleaning our room. Even though the work we do may at times seem meaningless, Paul reminds us that all of it is for the glory of the Lord.
I don’t know what kind of work your Monday will bring, but what I do know is that it matters to God. My prayer for you today is that you will work with enthusiasm, like Paul.
And with joy, like Kevan.
Monday’s Reflection
What is the most difficult thing you will do today? Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you joy while doing it. Ask God to reveal what that looks like in your workplace.
