Do Your Best

By John T. McNeal   

Do you ever have days at work when you just want to skate by doing as little as possible? I mean, doing absolutely as little as you can get away with; doing just enough to get by without being noticed. Some people would say things like “It’s good enough for the government!” Have you ever wondered if it was good enough for God?

I worked with a guy who used to be a contractor for a major construction company. He said that a few associates had a wager on who could look the busiest, but not get anything done. He said the guy who won the wager walked around with a clipboard and a measuring tape for three weeks. He said that he would measure boards, pipes, distances between walls, etc., and write these measurements down on the clipboard. At the end of the day he would throw the piece of paper away, and do it all again the next day.  He stopped after three weeks because he was bored and wanted to make a difference.

Can you imagine if the God of the universe had this attitude when he was creating everything? Of course, God would not have diminished his efforts because it is not in his nature. He is so good that he saved his very best creation for last and he said “it was very good.” Everything fits according to His plan.

In the Old Testament story, Daniel knew that his situation was pretty grim. He was stuck in Babylon and all his rights were stripped away. Even his name was changed. The only two things he had going for him were his intelligence and the fact that he had God on his side. Do you think Daniel’s situation could have prevented him from doing his best? I would think that he could have wavered from time to time, but I think he gave his best. I believe he served the Babylonians because he knew God would get the glory. In the end, look who got thrown into the lion’s den.

In Ephesians 6, Paul speaks to Christian slaves and their Christian masters. He encourages them to do their best at whatever they are doing. Why then could we not apply this principal to our current work habits? In verses 7 – 9, Paul writes, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.  And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”

In this dog eat dog world, people are always trying to find ways to the top of the corporate ladder. Lying, stealing, cheating, and back-stabbing are a few ways people get to the top. In some people’s eyes “good old-fashioned hard work” is not enough anymore. But according to Paul, if you work as if you’re doing it for the Lord, then you will reap a reward accordingly. That reward might not be the top rung of the ladder in your company, but it will allow you to give glory where glory is due. Sometimes not reaching the top rung of that ladder is worth the time you get to spend with your family.

In a nut shell: do your best. Don’t skimp on whatever you lay your hands on, and work as if you’re working for the Lord and not for men. Apply this to your work ethics and watch what God can do through you.

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