Menial tasks…

Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people. Proverbs 22:29

I was in a security line at an airport. A large glass wall that extended the length of the area incubated us from the rest of the open floor in the security area.

I noticed everyone watching an airport staff member that was washing the glass wall. People were in awe at this guy’s skill. In one hand he held the sponge that was soaked in the cleaning detergent and in the other hand he held the wiper blade and in circular motions, as one hand followed the other, he was making figure eight type movements with each arm in a coordinated fashion and moving at a speed that made you think that he actually must have missed several spots. The amazing part was he didn’t miss any of it and each area dried seconds after he finished it.

If I could have read everyone’s mind I suspect that we were all thinking nearly the same thing; here is a man who takes pride in his work no matter how menial the task. This man was clearly not concerned about being noticed or getting credit. He was single-minded in his purpose to clean the glass and he clearly had developed a rhythm that proved effective and was something to behold.

I wonder if the people who watch us do our work think the same thing. What does it mean to be a competent worker? Is it just about having the skills for the job and the know-how to do it? That is certainly a big part of it but there is more. Competence also means doing the job well and doing it completely. It means that we don’t take shortcuts but rather are concerned about the details. It requires follow through and commitment even when we are weary of the menial tasks.

For the Christian it means all this but it also includes one more ingredient; joy. Doing the work that the Lord has given us with joy is an essential part that can make a world of difference.

We are instructed to do everything as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23), which means when we work we are working for Him first and then our boss or the person in authority over us.

Our job should not dictate our joy…