Work for the Lord
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human master…”
Colossians 3:23, NIV
Being called to Student Ministry was not something I knew from a young age. When I was little, I wanted to be a professional football player. My parents thought I was going to be a lawyer because I always had to be right. When I made it to high school, I started thinking about a career that I would love and knew that I wasn’t going to make it to the NFL, so I thought zoology because I love animals. When I started college, I pursued a degree in biological sciences to become a zoologist and travel the world. I quickly learned that wasn’t for me and switched my major to Elementary Education. I then switched my major again to Special Education. I enjoyed spending time with students, helping them learn and loving them as they were. My plan was to become a special education teacher and work at my alma mater where I would also coach football. All I had to do was graduate, but even that was hard as I wasn’t going to class or doing any of my assignments. This resulted in me returning home for a semester where I questioned what I wanted to do with my life. Clearly, I didn’t want to teach as much as I thought because I didn’t want to put in the work. I also hadn’t been carving out time in my day to spend with God or truly pursue Him in my life. I thought my mom had made me stay home for that semester but when I look back, I know it was God.
Trying to straighten myself out, I made sure I spent time with the Lord every day. Praying and asking for guidance and just sitting in quiet to hear Him. One morning, I got done reading Colossians 3:23 and things clicked. I realized that I viewed my work and college as something to do for mankind when it should have been for the Lord. I immediately prayed telling God that I wanted to honor Him with my life, regardless of my vocation. And whatever my profession, I would do it with all my heart. And as I sat in silence, listening, I heard the call to Student Ministry.
Now I know everyone isn’t called to be in ministry, but we are all called to serve and work with all our heart for the Lord wherever we are. When we start to do that, our outlook on work, our careers, our families and our lives change. They no longer become a grueling task, things that pull us down, or just something we do. They become blessings to the Lord.
How can you work for the Lord, with all your heart and honor Him with your life?
