Discipline does not come naturally for me. I don’t often finish things. I’m good for about 80% and then I lose interest or energy and quit.
I bought the book “Discipline: The Glad Surrender” at the recommendation of a college friend whose faith I admire. Secretly I hoped it held magic words that would instantly improve my character flaw.
I ordered the book September 4, 2019.
I began reading the book September 19, 2019.
I finished the book September 3, 2020.
Clearly my discipline is a work in progress.
I suppose it all worked for good though. As I read through car line recently, I found inspiration for this writing appropriate for Labor Day (or the day after because lack o’ discipline, y’all.)
My Ticonderoga pencil worked hard through chapter 12: The Discipline of Work. Words, sentences, and even complete paragraphs are underlined, circled, and asterisked to highlight what I believe are Elisabeth Elliott’s best thoughts on work.
Early in chapter 12, she writes:
“Every one of us has a line of duty marked out for us by God.”
My job as Communications Director at Kids to Love supports a ministry that meets the needs of children in foster care. Even on days when my work feels very ordinary I can connect it to a purpose bigger than myself.
Other careers may not always feel dutiful to the Lord. I think of my daddy, laboring for 30+ years in the coal mines. He carried in his lunchbox a pocket planner, and wrote each day the hours he worked, who he worked with and what he did: run scoop, move equipment, load rock, run buggy.
I do not know true labor. I have never had to work hard with my hands. On the rare occasion a job has required me to break a sweat, I’ve accepted the work was temporary. Never a career calling or a day-in, day-out duty.
The Bible tells us whatever we do, we should do it for the glory of God. So, whether you’re deep underground or above it at a desk, consider your character. Daddy proved himself a man of integrity. When the company hired its first female miner, she was assigned to work with my daddy. Mom said it was because daddy’s supervisors knew there would be no risk of disrespect or misconduct.
I have no doubt mining coal was daddy’s mission field, and that God was honored through his hard work.
There is so much more I want to say about Elisabeth Elliott’s writing on the discipline of work. But I’m about 80% done with what I set out to say and that means it’s time for me to move on. (See sentence #1. I may not be disciplined but I’m funny!)
Whether you’re starting a new work week today after enjoying Monday off or just starting a new day, I offer you this verse, also included in Ms. Elliott’s work:
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands yes, establish the work of our hands!”
(Psalm 90:17)
Other notable thoughts from chapter 12: The Discipline of Work
- “Let us rest assured that God knows how to show His will to the one who is willing to do it.”
- “Interest and challenge can always be found in any task done for God.”
- “What constitutes a ‘great work for God’? Where does it begin? Always in humility.”
- “We need help. We may write the book, sell the policy, cook the meal, do the job, whatever it is, but there will be days when we do it halfheartedly, other days when we do it despondently. If the work is soaked in prayer, the beauty will be there, the work will be established.”
- “Let us never say ‘God has given me nothing to do.’ He has. It lies on your doorstep. Do it, and He will show you something else.”
