We were in a rural part of Pignon, Haiti. The day was almost done and the team was wrapping up. We went there to get stories and the sight I was about to see would say more to me than anything else we had experienced that day. There was a young man sitting in front of me, on a pile of rocks, making gravel. He wasn’t running a big machine and he wasn’t wearing a hard hat. All he had was a hammer and the strength God gave him. I was taken aback.
How many times had I complained about some insignificant work-related incident? On my worst day, had my office chair ever been so uncomfortable?
What reason did I have to wish for better circumstances?
You’ve heard it before: our world is sheltered. It’s not realistic. But hearing something isn’t the same as seeing it for yourself. Looking at his tattered jeans, his dust-stained hands, I felt embarrassed. “Privilege,” that’s the word that came to mind.
So as any good communications team member would do, I stopped and took a photo. That was my job. He smiled and we went on our way.
Now I know this world is unfair. And, at Hungry For Life, we are always striving to tilt that scale back toward justice. I also know that the community this young man lives in has been changed because of people like you — who volunteer their time, energy and money. But that doesn’t mean I am above learning from his situation.
God spoke,
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” - Colossians 3:23–24 (ESV)
As much as we hope to change the physical poverty in this world, we have a vision to see spiritual change as well. In the future, when I read that verse, I will always picture the guy in a “Fight Like a Girl” t-shirt. My attitude toward work — as well as all other avenues of life — must centre on the Lord.
These verses come from a theologically-packed section of the Bible. In context, they describe how our daily lives are meant to reflect Jesus. Not in the miraculous, but in the ordinary. In other words, finding Jesus when you are doing laundry, writing a report or even if you find yourself smashing rocks.
The task isn’t the subject that should matter to us. Your job isn’t God’s primary concern — neither is your salary. He doesn’t rank His children based on their health and dental packages.
You know what God cares about?
Who you work for.
I’m not talking about the company where you work and I’m not even talking about the people you bring home the bacon for. I’m talking about making God the primary motivator for your entire life — including work. When that becomes your reality, your circumstances won't matter so much.
