TODAY IN THE WORD
Henry Ford, inventor of the automobile, once hired an efficiency expert to evaluate his company. The expert gave a favorable report, but complained about one of FordÕs employees. ÒEvery time I go by his office, heÕs just sitting there with his feet up on his desk. That man is wasting your money.Ó

Ford replied, ÒThat man once had an idea that saved us millions of dollars. At the time, I believe his feet were planted right where they are now.Ó

It was natural for a visitor to FordÕs offices to assume that an employee with his feet on the desk was shirking his duty. But something was happening there that the expert couldnÕt see. Henry Ford saw it, and recognized and rewarded the manÕs work.

Something similar was happening among the first centuryÕs equivalent of employees and employers. Slaves and masters were becoming believers in places like Colosse. Suddenly, a master and his slave might find themselves worshiping next to each other as brothers in Christ.

Their new relationship with Christ changed everything about their relationship with each other. Slaves were to work as faithfully for their masters as they would work for Christ because, in fact, He was the real Òboss.Ó And masters were to treat their slaves with the same fairness and respect they would want to receive from their Master in heaven.

The result was a radical departure from the ordinary master-slave relationship in the Roman empire. Slaves in that day had little incentive to give their masters a decent dayÕs work. After all, they were serving against their will in less than ideal circumstances.

By the same token, masters usually had little incentive to treat their slaves with compassion. The relationship was often adversarial, with one side trying to do as little as possible while the other pushed for maximum productivity.

Can you see the difference the gospel made? The principle of todayÕs verse was a radical new approach to work in PaulÕs day. And the principle works in any employment setting, including yours.

---

TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Work is so much a part of our identity in this culture that our attitude toward it helps shape our entire attitude toward life.

It could be that because of Christmas, things are more hectic and pressured than usual at your workplace. Even if thatÕs not the case, you may know a coworker who could use a little help this week. Why not go the extra mile for a coworker? Do it as if you were serving the Lord Himself, and youÕll enjoy the reward of His approval.

< Previous Day

Next Day >