"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for people, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24)

On an autumn walk, a woman stopped to watch two men at work in a quarry. They appeared to be doing the same thing, yet it was difficult not to notice how very different their attitudes were as they worked. The first man grumbled and complained, while the second man hummed softly to himself.

"What are you doing?" the woman asked the first man.

"Cutting stone, what does it look like?" was the man's terse reply.

"And what about you?" she asked the second man. "What are you doing?"

The second man smiled at the woman and answered, "Building a cathedral."

If someone were to ask you why you work or what your purpose is for doing what you do, what would your answer be?

Most people would say they work to make a living, or just to earn a dollar. But these statements reveal a lack of understanding of the biblical motivation behind our labor. The scripture passage that is quoted above reveals the real reason that we should work: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."

Regardless of the type of work that we do, whether it's for business or it's for homemaking, we are to work as if Jesus were our boss or supervisor. When we embrace this powerful truth, it has a dramatic effect on our attitudes. We're no longer working just to make a living or to keep the house from being messy; we're working for the Lord! We're no longer on the job just to earn another dollar; our work is an offering to the Lord, and for that reason, it should be the very best that we can do.

So regardless of what we're doing, our lives should always reflect our best efforts because we're working for Jesus to further His kingdom. Stewardship, then, is the difference between a labor of love for the Lord and just cutting stone.

Salem Church is beginning its annual stewardship emphasis. This is the time of year that each of us is asked to search our hearts for what God would have us give to His work.

As your pastor and your friend, I'm asking you to please set aside some time this week to consider your blessings. Then, pray about your financial commitment to Him for the coming year. Is it your best, your labor of love for the Lord and His kingdom?

On October 19th in worship, you'll have the opportunity to indicate how you will serve Jesus with your finances in 2004 by bringing your commitment card forward to His altar. It is the Lord we are serving together -- let's do so willingly, expectantly, and generously!