On Minding Your Business

Last Sunday, I attended a prayer vigil for the unemployed (thank you Angie!). We listened to testimonies of those who lost their jobs and prayed for improved employment conditions in our community. While I was there, I have to admit, I felt a little guilty. Here I was, an employed person, standing there as if I had I had a right to testify about this issue. What qualified me to stand with the unemployed? What was my testimony?

This was really deep to me.. During the recession, I didn’t lose a job, I actually got a better job. I didn’t become underemployed, I became over-employed. Inside, I praised God as I left the vigil that night. I was blessed with a new job. That was my testimony - or so I thought.

As I was reading the Bible later that week, a wave of guilt washed over me again. I read Romans 12:10-13 and immediately was convicted. Verse 11 is what completely tripped me up. It says believers shouldn't be "…slothful in business". I was unnerved by what this may have meant. Was the Bible saying that we were not to be slothful (or lazy)? Oh no, it couldn’t be saying that. So I looked in another translation and the same verse said "… not lagging behind in diligence". OH NO! Not lagging behind? You mean God doesn’t want me to be late?

This was devastating to me. Inside, I didn’t want this to be true, but I knew it was. These verses were saying that having favor with God doesn’t mean having a job, but it means doing a job well. (I was not blessed because I had a job, I was blessed to work.) I was convicted because there are times where I may want to coast in life. There are countless other times where I am late (my wife will tell you this is an epidemic). Neither of these are qualities God desires in a believer. He wants us to be exemplary employees. I was convinced after reading this, that I wanted this to be my new testimony. I wanted to be known as a hard and diligent worker, for being on time and accountable. I wanted to be known as someone who minded his business and took care of it.

As I came to this conclusion, God showed me there is a reason He desires this type of character. He wants believers to have the Spirit of the “getter”. This is a spirit that is open and primed to get what God has for them. Those who are lazy and late are non-expectant. They are complacent and not ready to receive. Those who are diligent workers are constantly in preparation to receive from God. Whether He blesses today or tomorrow, they are prepared. (Quick sidebar: when God chose someone in the Bible, they were always busy working. Moses – for his father-in-law, David – as his father’s shepherd, Jesus’ disciples – as tax collectors, fishermen, etc. Before God chose them, He saw that they were hard and faithful workers… Hmm.)

We have to ask ourselves every day on which side of the coin do we fall. Am I minding my business in preparation to receive from the Lord, or not? God is trying to create in us a spirit ready to receive. He is teaching us this more and more each day we mind our business.





Lord, I honor You for my job. It is worthy work. It allows me to make a difference, but more importantly, it allows me to come into contact with Your people. All that, AND you feed and clothe my family through it! Please give me the wisdom and humility to work hard as if You were my boss, because in reality, You are. Give me a diligent and punctual spirit. Please forgive me for being lax and even murmuring. I am blessed to work. Thank You for my co-workers and our relationships. I love You.



Confessing,
j.a.g.








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Romans 12:10-13
10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.