Message summary: What kind of attitude do you have about your work today?

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"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23,24).

Have you had a glass of milk today or perhaps you poured it over your cereal. Our thankfulness, which we may not always express, is usually generic since, for most of us, milk comes to us in a plastic jug and we don't give a lot of thought to the labor of someone we don't see working. But as I drink a glass of milk this morning I have a fresh perspective.

Yesterday I took a group of Amish schoolteachers home after their long day of teaching. Due to weddings, which are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in November and December, I drove several substitute teachers.

I often ask them which youth group they're a part of since participating in an Amish Youth Group is very important to them. That's where they often meet their life mate. Youth groups can number over 100 and they meet on Sunday evenings (and other occasions as well). When they turn 16 (and not one day before) they all join a youth group so there are many Amish youth groups throughout our area.

When I asked yesterday, one of the teachers informed me that she was married (once married the boy and girl are no longer in a youth group). She told me that they had just celebrated their first anniversary. Having been a teacher before her marriage she now fills in for the regular teacher. I know her day likely began before 5:00 AM to get ready.

She and her husband rent a dairy farm. I asked her how things were going in setting up their house as a couple. She told me she was learning to cook, which I assumed just came naturally for Amish girls since they are usually helping their mom in the kitchen!

I dropped her off just before 5 PM at her farm and bid her a good day.  In our parting words I commented, "Well, I guess you'll need to make supper now". She replied, "Yes, but we need to milk the cows first". She said it without the slightest hint of any dread or resentment. It struck me at the time that her attitude displayed the strong work ethic in the Amish culture.

What kind of attitude do you have about your work today? Scripture gives us this command,  "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23,24).

Today let us value all work that benefits others, including the work of the dairy farmer that springs into action before dawn for most of our hard working farmers. 

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber