by Rick Warren
“Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best.” (Colossians 3:22 MSG)
If you want your work to be blessed by God, you need to exceed what is expected of you. No matter what you do, whether you’re a truck driver, an attorney, a cook, or a teacher, do more than the minimum. Don’t just get by.
God wants you to go beyond the normal and surpass what is required of you. Our verse today tells us to exceed the expectations of your boss, to exceed the expectations of your customers. That is the kind of work God blesses.
We live in a culture of mediocrity. How many times do we complain about shoddy workmanship or poor service or inferior quality? Americans used to take pride in their craft, but today it has become about just getting by. So many people just put in their time, do the minimum that’s required of them, and cut corners, getting by on as little effort as possible.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that this makes it very easy to stand out at work. Any time you take pride in your work and decide to do more than expected, you’ll rise to the top.
Another reason we should exceed in our work is because we represent Jesus Christ. And Jesus said, “If someone demands that you go one mile, go with him two miles” (Matthew 5:41). Exceed what’s expected of you, and watch God bless it.
Talk About It
- What kind of results do you get when you have a “just get by” attitude about work?
- How do you think your co-workers would describe your work ethic?
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America’s largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller “The Purpose Driven Life.” His book, “The Purpose Driven Church,” was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.
This devotional ©2012 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
