When All You Must Do Is To Work Hard
- Category: Office Ethics
- Date 14-10-2020
- 627 views
Effective performance and ultimate success come from working very hard, with undivided attention and without seeking unfair advantage. The problem today is that many people are happy to be paid for no work done while others find it easy to abandon work on flimsy excuses. Jesus condemns such conduct, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). ‘Success is a set of ladders, which you cannot climb with your hands in the pockets’ (Ugandan proverb). Insects seem to understand this better because Scripture instructs people to imitate insects: “You idler, go to the ant, watch her ways…. She secures food in summer and stores up provisions during harvest time. ” (Prov 6:6-8).
Work is part of what makes a person truly human and meaningful on earth. St Paul emphasises, “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should that person eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Although unemployment is rampant today, no one should live in a state of redundancy. Yet, it has also been said that ‘if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well’. Meaningful work occurs when the worker goes about it with commitment. The truth is that work almost always involves challenges in form of mistakes, accidents, sweat, tiredness, poor pay or even no pay. For a lazy person, such challenges would become the basis for avoiding work, with ridiculous excuses.
Although the task may be enormous, there is never a justification for evading responsibility. The right option is to seek God’s guidance and protection to accomplish the task at hand. While inside the fish, Jonah prayed to God; he was rescued and empowered to accomplish the task assigned to him. “In my distress, I cried to Yahweh and he answered me” (Jonah 2:2-3). Jesus Christ was at the verge of crucifixion, but he still carried a heavy log on which he was to be hanged. “Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull…” (John 19:17-18). Jesus understood that however tasking his mission appeared, it was manageable with God’s will. Risks are mere imaginations in a person’s mind.
Moreover, opportunities often come disguised as tiresome and dangerous situations, and people who confront challenges usually reap great benefits.
Scripture shows that Daniel performed excellently and outshone all other administrators and governors. The king planned to give him authority over the entire kingdom because he was so trustworthy that neither corruption nor negligence could be found in him. He invested sufficient energy in his work.
When his detractors plotted to kill him, God sent his angel who closed the mouths of the lions and disabled them from harming him (Daniel 6:3-23). God will always minimise the risks that may arise from decent behaviour and honest work. Hard work brings blessings. Your family members are proud of you if you are hard-working. The community will admire you if you are a diligent character. Your co-workers will respect you if you are a committed employee.
Recruiters will be delighted to hire you if you are a trusted worker. Work is life. If you are alive, work hard. Time will come when you will be free from all work – and that time is after your death. “Fulfil your projects while you are able, for among the dead where you are going, there is no work, no planning, no knowledge, no wisdom” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
By Venansio Ahabwe
Source: Leadership Magazine