As Unto the Lord
I have been retired from teaching for three full years. After teaching for 31 years, I didn't think I would do very well at 'not working'. I had a really hard time when my children left the nest, and I figured this would be just as difficult for me, if not more. When my kids left, I had my job and 20+ kids to nurture in the classroom. Retirement meant no work, no kids, nothing to do and nothing to occupy my time. Some of you know, and all of you will see, that the amount of time I spent working was so huge that I didn't see how I could fill it without my job. I was wrong about that. More on that later.
Let me explain. When I was working, and some of you know this full well, it was very important to me to do a good job. VERY important to me.I knew how critical the influence of a teacher was, especially when teaching very young students. Getting them started was a huge responsibility to me. For part of that time, I was a Christian also. I knew enough about the Bible to be dangerous. I had some vague knowledge about a verse that said, "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart." So, this and the work ethic I was raised with collided to make one very hard worker. Really hard. Too hard. I thought I needed to do everything and then some to be the teacher those kids needed. Most days I put in at least 10 hours and took more home with me. Sometimes it was 12 hours or more. Whatever I took home got done 99% of the time, even if that meant working until 1, 2, or even 3:00 in the morning. Then I would start all over again the next day. I became more nervous, irritable, and fragmented each day. Little things made me mad. (That happens when you don't sleep enough). I had little if any control over my emotions. Life became a constant turmoil.
What I needed to do was look at the rest of the verses in Collosians 3:23-24 :
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
There's a lot said in those two verses. When I look at them in relation to how I worked as a teacher, I understand I had it just as wrong as those who don't give enough for the job. I am pretty sure Christ would not want me to be short with others. To get angry and react before I thought. To be disrespectful and rude. To give less at home because I was giving too much at work.
We usually think about the people who don't work hard as the ones referred to in this Bible verse. But I know now that it works both ways. If I am working 'as unto the Lord' I will try to keep a balance in my life. I will do the best I can in an appropriate time frame. I will treat other people as though I am interacting with Christ. Hebrews 6:10 says:
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."
Showing our love to Christ in our work demands balance, compassion, trustworthiness, kindness, and always completing everything to our best ability. Showing our love to Christ even means showing a little love to ourselves and others in our lives. Both in our work and in our homes.
I know that now. So my retirement is different. I have plenty to fill it. I substitute teach, camp and ride the scooter with my husband, quilt, read, and cross stitch. I try to spend time with my grandchildren often. I get enough sleep. Balance. Finally.
What about you? How do you handle work or retirement? Is Christ the one you work for? If not, check the Book. It really does have all the answers!
Let me explain. When I was working, and some of you know this full well, it was very important to me to do a good job. VERY important to me.I knew how critical the influence of a teacher was, especially when teaching very young students. Getting them started was a huge responsibility to me. For part of that time, I was a Christian also. I knew enough about the Bible to be dangerous. I had some vague knowledge about a verse that said, "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart." So, this and the work ethic I was raised with collided to make one very hard worker. Really hard. Too hard. I thought I needed to do everything and then some to be the teacher those kids needed. Most days I put in at least 10 hours and took more home with me. Sometimes it was 12 hours or more. Whatever I took home got done 99% of the time, even if that meant working until 1, 2, or even 3:00 in the morning. Then I would start all over again the next day. I became more nervous, irritable, and fragmented each day. Little things made me mad. (That happens when you don't sleep enough). I had little if any control over my emotions. Life became a constant turmoil.
What I needed to do was look at the rest of the verses in Collosians 3:23-24 :
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
There's a lot said in those two verses. When I look at them in relation to how I worked as a teacher, I understand I had it just as wrong as those who don't give enough for the job. I am pretty sure Christ would not want me to be short with others. To get angry and react before I thought. To be disrespectful and rude. To give less at home because I was giving too much at work.
We usually think about the people who don't work hard as the ones referred to in this Bible verse. But I know now that it works both ways. If I am working 'as unto the Lord' I will try to keep a balance in my life. I will do the best I can in an appropriate time frame. I will treat other people as though I am interacting with Christ. Hebrews 6:10 says:
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."
Showing our love to Christ in our work demands balance, compassion, trustworthiness, kindness, and always completing everything to our best ability. Showing our love to Christ even means showing a little love to ourselves and others in our lives. Both in our work and in our homes.
I know that now. So my retirement is different. I have plenty to fill it. I substitute teach, camp and ride the scooter with my husband, quilt, read, and cross stitch. I try to spend time with my grandchildren often. I get enough sleep. Balance. Finally.
What about you? How do you handle work or retirement? Is Christ the one you work for? If not, check the Book. It really does have all the answers!
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