Forward- Part 3

It’s possible that the roster of a professional sports team makes a good microcosm to study life in the career world. There is a player in almost every batting rotation or starting lineup who is one or two more bad plays away from getting traded or farmed out to the minors, and he knows it. He shows up early and puts in extra time at practice or the gym, always listens to the advice of his coach, and reads the latest research on performance improvement. He does all of this because he wants another season for himself and his family, and he isn’t sure his player averages will pass muster.

On the same team, there is often a superstar recruited directly out of high school who skips practices and spends more of his time among supermodels and at wild parties than at team events. He might show up hungover when he does show up, and squabbles publicly with the manager and team owner. But for all his histrionics, he can still take the field and put the ball into the bleacher seats or the end zone every time.

I would like to tell you that when it comes time to set the team roster, the first player’s loyalty, commitment, and diligence will matter more. And on some level, the team manager probably wants that first player to find the secret to raising his game. But sadly, character is not a substitute for ability – and team management is about getting results.  We have all seen this script play out before, and we know the second player will win more games and fill more stadium seats.

Now that I’ve thoroughly depressed you, let’s take a look at Paul’s letter to the Colossians. As we heard on Sunday, Colosse was a struggling town filled with slave labor, and the apostle advises those Christians to “obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:22-23 NIV).

Why in the world should we push ourselves so hard when it won’t amount to anything? Well, because we aren’t doing it for the glory of one more season in the majors, or even for team spirit. It’s dangerous to fall into the trap of thinking hard work will be rewarded all the time, or that the result is justification for the effort. We are to leave it all on the field even if we know we are going to lose, to please the Lord, knowing that “you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.” (Colossians 3: 24-25).

The earthly result of our work is not our goal, and is not even important. It doesn’t really matter if the master frees or rewards the slave or elevates his status, or simply tasks him all the harder to compensate for his less productive laborers. We aren’t working for that master, or even ourselves for that matter. We work with our whole heart to be a testimony to our Savior, who uses our zeal for his righteousness to transform us.

Written by: Chad Halcom

Edited by: Tamara Sturdivant