It's 5.40am and as usual, Fenning has left it til the last minute to blog. Sorry if this hasn't arrive until after you've got up. Please feel free to have a lie-in every morning this week, just in case I have to do the 'early shift' again through my lack of good time management! (I'm guessing this blog might be a short one, too!)
I wonder how you're feeling about school or work today. I guess some of that will depend on how last week went for you and and what is in store for you this week.
I love the way chapter 2 begins with Ruth being proactive, choosing to head out to 'work' at harvest time to gather the left overs from the harvest field. And boy does she work. Her workrate and commitment is noticed by the foreman who then tells Boaz. "She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.”
Most of us work for a living, whereas Ruth went to work for survival. If I have a bad day at the office or don't achieve much, I'll still get paid (hopefully). If I have a bad day and don't get all the jobs done around the house and garden that I'd hope to do, they can wait. If Ruth has a bad day in the fields, she won't have food. Her attitude and work rate would probably put many of us to shame. Why? Because something was at stake here - it's called 'the survival of Naomi and Ruth.'
This week could be a very ordinary week for us. We could drift through it doing the minimum amount of work in order to get by. Or this week could be an extraordinary week where we work hard and act with purpose because of having something at stake. What's at stake?
"...don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work." Col 3:22-25 MSG
Following on from yesterday morning's reading, I sense a song coming on...
"Tumble outta bed and stumble to the kitchen. Pour myself a cup of ambition
Yawnin, stretchin, try to come to life (sing it Dolly!)
Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumpin. Out on the streets the traffic starts jumpin
And folks like me on the job from 9 to 5
(Everyone together...)
Workin 9 to 5, what a way to make a livin...
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Have loved reading your blogs Steve and it's the first thing we look for when we get online. I've been genuinely challenged this morning and I'm now excited about having an extraordinary day at work. I'm also glad you've chosen the method of blogging that means they can be of uppermost relevance and topical. Thanks mate
ReplyDeleteDan
Certainly a challenging start to the day/week. Chimes with what I've learnt over the last few months, hard work, when your clear on your purpose is rewarding and positive.
ReplyDeleteWhat's at stake? - A lot of the time we can think that there's nothing at stake, after all we're rich and comfortable in the middle classed developed world.
I think that the reputation of Christians can be at stake every day though.
As a Christian I want to be recognised as hard working, trustworthy and purpose driven by my non-Christian associates. Wouldn't it be great if employers associated Christians as a group with the 'Ruth' worth ethic. Every day, and without evening opening our mouths we could be advocates for Jesus in a way that's recognised and appreciated in the world.
Maybe on Friday I'll assess how 'good' my week has been a little differently than normal...
Lovin' the Dolly Parton link! Thanks for great words to start a day.
ReplyDeleteRuth had had her share of good and bad times. I was asked today about how I was and how my week had been? Was made to think seriously about the list of good and bad bits. If we are going through a really tough time and because of how we feel, are the list of bad longer than those of good? By an accident of birth I was born into a family in a wealthy country with the schools, health service, good housing, water, electic etc. And I live in a society where I've been told about God and can go to church.
ReplyDeleteHowever hard my life and whatever my losses and heartache, if I sat a wrote a list of every little thing I have in my home and my life which under different circumstances I never had..... how very long that list would be!!
Ruth's life was so hard on so many different levels but she always kept going. She stands out from the crowd in more ways than one.
I've had a day off today and I've still got food in the fridge. In this heat I'm so glad I don't have to go and gleen in the fields!
Claire