Why Bother?

by HJS

For thirty years a foreman worked for a contractor who treated him honestly but never paid him what he wanted. The foreman griped and complained. "He always wants my best work, and he's never satisfied." One day the owner of the company called in the foreman and said, "I'm going to retire next year and I want you to build one more house for me. Give it your best effort! Use the finest materials and craftsmen, and when it's done, I'm retiring." 

The foreman thought, If this is his last house, why bother putting in my best effort? I'll be looking for a new job this time next year. So the foreman built the house, cutting corners where he could.

When the house was completed, the owner called him into the office, "Here," he said, "I wanted this to be your best work as a reward for these many years of service." And he handed to the foreman the keys to the house. The foreman lived with the reality that the poorly built house was his, and had he known, he would have done a better job.

The Bible says that God demands your best. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Colossians 3:23). Why does God care whether you do your best or not? What's the connection between your effort and His will?

God's desire is for you to become all you were created to be. What you are is God's gift to you; what you become is your gift to Him. God gave you tremendous talents abilities, and doing your best is required to realize your potential.

You may someday have to live in the house you built.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.  COLOSSIANS 3:23