Skillful In Your Work

I watched two very interesting shows the other day. One was an interview by Piers Morgan with Donny Osmond in 2013 on You Can't Fire Me. I'm Famous. The other was a documentary on Sushi Chef Jiro Ono of Tokyo called Jiro Dreams Of Sushi. They were vastly different in subject matter, but yet had a very similar element.

The interview with Donny shared his life story: his teen sensation days, his TV series, failure and success on Broadway, struggles with consumers' changing perception of him as an artist and his current show business achievements. As a whole, the entire show was about hard work, something he has done since he was 3. Yes, age 3.

The documentary on Jiro also spoke to hard work, something Jiro said started when he was in first grade. He was told he had no home to come back to, spurring him on to work hard to survive. He is nearly 90 years old and still head chef at his restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, where 20-course meals start at $300.

I was impressed by the relentless hard work of both of these men. They strive for perfection and give everything they have to the profession they've chosen. They aim to provide their customers with the very best of who they are and what they do. It is admirable.

We are happy our children are driven. They want to do the very best at what they do, and we see that in Rob and Kayla, too. To not settle for mediocrity, to endeavor to reach a top that is ever extended higher, is an estimable accomplishment. God has gifted us all with talents and expects us to use them to their greatest capacity. He wants us to continue to learn and improve. The Bible tells us to work hard. Proverbs 22:29 says. "Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men." Ephesians 4:28 says, "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands..." and here comes the why, "so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." Isn't that interesting? The Lord wants us to work hard not for accolades or financial success to our wealthy benefit, but rather that we might help His children in need. In Acts 20:35 it says, "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” John 5:17 says, "But Jesus answered them, 'My Father is working until now, and I am working.'”

Work hard. Do your best. Learn everything you can to become even better. Do great things. But remember why you do it ... to His glory and the blessing of His Kingdom (Colossians 3:23). With that focus in mind and working as if serving the Lord Himself, success is inevitable.

Discussion: What are your talents? How do you use those gifts? Do you tend to work hard or hardly work? What is success to you? How do you use what God has gifted you with to serve Him?

Prayer: Lord you are the One who created us and gave us the unique talents we have. We pray we work hard to improve our skills and use them to be a blessings to others. In Christ, Amen.