Work Heartily by Kitty Metzger

Work Heartily

by Kitty Metzger

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”

(Colossians 3:23, ESV).

We work in many places such as our jobs, homes, and gardens.

Work evokes positive and negative images. One of my bosses said he’d quit working when his job was no longer fun. Our motivation in performing the tasks of any job, however, springs from our viewpoint.

Many of us began writing for fun. Poetry and short stories spilled onto our computers or notebooks. We filled journals and composed letters to the editors of newspapers or magazines. Then, at some point, the hobby became work—a job.

For Christian authors, writing is more than a job. We have deeper inspiration than gaining money or recognition, as nice as they are. We want to use our words to please the Lord. Each document we create is for his glory, not ours.

Because I write for him, I want to resist the urge to slack off, but I still do. I know I shouldn’t procrastinate or take shortcuts, but I do. Many writers can relate.

I expected my decision to write for the Lord would guarantee a flow of ideas and words. I was wrong. I anticipated what I thought Bible writers experienced, and that the Holy Spirit would almost take my pen and move my hands to get the right words on the page.

That didn’t happen.

I had to work. Words didn’t flow. Ideas didn’t flood my mind. Discouragement plagued me. Why was this so hard if I was doing what I believed God wanted me to do?  Then with a moment of fresh light I understood the verse far better. God didn’t say we wouldn’t have to work. He said we would.

We’ve all done good projects from painting a room, to weeding a garden, or creating a delicious meal. We’ve admired the results knowing the end was worth the effort. In the same way our completed compositions are worth the labor. When layers of rewriting are done and we review the final product, we want to satisfy ourselves and especially the Lord. We aim to honor and glorify him with polished words that are worthy.

Dear Lord, help me remember that my work is for you, not for me. Help me focus on you and spread your message. 

Kitty Metzger is an award-winning author of two books, Stitching a Beautiful Life: 13 Needlework Principles to Bring You Closer to God and They Were There, Seven Stories of Ordinary People who Witnessed the Birth of Jesus. A Sunday school teacher and founding member of the Smyrna, Georgia, Community Bible Study, she is president of the Greater Atlanta Words Weavers and the Dogwood Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America. When she’s not writing, she’s stitching or watching her great-granddaughter, Mary.