Ephesians 6:5-8 “Obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.”
Excellence at work is a matter of serving God and seeking his reward. It is not about doing the bare minimum, or about promoting myself, or about office politics and scheming, or about making an idol of my career. These verses instruct me to have this way of thinking and acting toward my boss: obedience, respect, sincerity, and wholehearted service. It is a pleasure to work for an inspiring leader, but a challenge with a difficult or incompetent boss. But, whether the human above me is respectable or not, my work must not change. I must deliver excellence because, ultimately, I am serving Jesus Christ. He has chosen me for this job, he provides the strength and wisdom to do it well, and he is the one who rewards me.
Father, may the work I do today be for your glory and not my own. Please guide me to do your will, serving you even as I serve my company and work alongside colleagues in our quest to grow revenues and benefit our clients and customers.