But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 1 Corinthians 3:13 NLT
I remember a few conversations like this that various teachers had with students in the classes they were teaching. “The homework I am assigning will not be turned in and graded. It is NOT mandatory. However, you will eventually be tested, and you need to know that the quality of your homework will most likely ultimately determine how well you do on the test.” Whew. That was straight-talking. I was always proud of good grades and had never heard anything like that previously when I attended college. The first time the professor said it, I considered it perhaps a relief. No homework required? Maybe a good deal. Surely, we would hear everything in class we needed to know. But because I didn’t want to risk it until I had more experience, I carefully did all the homework.
When we eventually had that first test, we all learned a lesson – and some of us learned it painfully. At least one third of the test was over material we did NOT cover in class, but information anyone who did the homework would have learned. The test showed who did the work and who did not. It taught me that all the work was important.
In a far greater sense, Paul is telling us, “There will be a test.” God doesn’t give any of us frivolous, insignificant assignments and opportunities in life. Everything matters. There will be a testing day, a day of judgment, when the quality of our work will be tested. Paul used the example of fire showing how a building has been built.
Thinking specifically of our vocational work, so much of our jobs can generally be done without anyone seeing or watching. We aren’t being checked to see how well we do our homework, how closely we stick to our assignments. We can find “workarounds” that allow us to look “busy” when we truly are handling personal business. We can subtly hang back on projects that need our assistance. We can find reasons that what we do or neglect to do is no big deal. But everything you've done in your career eventually will be seen – because Christ is going to inspect it on the day of judgment. On that day, everyone's work in the totality of life will be tested to show the character and quality of what each person has done. Has it been worthy of Him?
There will be a test, but there’s no reason to be anxious. You don’t have to always get it right. And you certainly don’t have to be the best. But you do have to work as if you’re doing it for Christ – because you really are.
- Are there ways you have let slide at work where your relationship with Jesus urges you to do better? How will you do the work?