TGIM!

So you posted “TGIF!” as your Facebook status a few days ago, and “I hate Mondays” this morning. Same old, same old.

May I challenge you to change things up, and against all that your body and mind tell you, just try posting, yelling, thinking to yourself: THANK GOD IT’S MONDAY!!!

If you just grunted at me, let me tell you about yesterday’s message at church, based on Genesis 39. It dealt with the workplace, and this encouragement from our pastor to say, “TGIM!” struck me for I, too, have been used to groaning my way out of bed on Monday mornings. The Bible’s illustration of a man — a very young man, at that — who worked with all his heart and thereby manifested God’s presence in his life even to people who did not know God, puts us whiners to shame: Here was Joseph, a favorite child from a well-to-do family, sold into slavery by his older brothers, and yet remaining steadfast in his commitment to honor God in all that he did.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians captures the spirit that we all ought to have toward work:

Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. (Col 3:22-24)

Note that he was addressing slaves. How much more can we be gracious workers?