For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, 

but the LORD looks on the heart (1 Sam 16:7)

I love the story of Joseph.  This week’s chapter of Embracing Your Strengths opens with a brief review of his resume: Favored son.  Slave.  First assistant to a high-ranking government official.  Convicted felon.  Chief Operating Officer of Egypt (p. 15).  What a roller coaster!!  But somehow, he was able to keep his attitude from turning sour, even during very difficult circumstances.  We don’t hear about the details of his personal relationship with God, like we do with David.  But we see his response to trials and tests.  For instance, Joseph’s main concern when Potiphar’s wife was harassing him was not his reputation, or his job, but, “How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God” (Gen 39:9, NLT).  Joseph knew that what really mattered was what God thought of him.

Fast forward to today.  Whether you have a high powered job, work part-time, or stay at home wiping little noses, you have the same choice that Joseph had: get distracted by circumstances or live to please God.  Living to please God is very counter-culture and our flesh rebells against it.  Some things never change.  Paul saw the same problem 2000 years ago: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want (Gal 5:16-17).   It seems that the “easy” way of living is living to please ourselves and not God – that is why so many people do it!  But this is one of the devil’s deceptions.  What is easier to live with – death or peace?  Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6).  God is a good Father.  He loves us and wants us to choose life and peace.

The battle field is in the mind.  The conflicts we have with other people, the difficulties we face, the circumstances that threaten to overwhelm…they have no power over us that we do not give them.  Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1John 4:4).  Pleasing other people is impossible sometimes.  Being task-oriented leads to frustration and disappointment when things do not go according to plan.  But pleasing God is easier and His tasks are more rewarding.  He is more forgiving of us than we are of ourselves.  He looks on our heart.  He knows when we have given our best, even if no one else does – remember the story of the Widow’s Mite?  She gave all that she had and Jesus saw it.  And He knows if what we have done (for our families, on our jobs, for Him) has not been done with a good heart – remember the story of Ananias and Sapphira?  They pretended to give more than they actually did.  They lied to everyone about an offering they gave – but God knew.  God knows more than our deeds; He knows our intentions.  You have searched me, LORD, and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You, LORD, know it completely (Psalm 139:1-4).  This is a comfort to me – He knows us and He knows how hard we try.  And when we don’t glorify Him with our effort or attitude – if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  God is better than any other boss I have ever had!

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men (Col 3:23).