Shalom Brother Seth,

I pray that you are well and in good health. Your post is beautiful bro. And made me pray and reflect on myself and how I deal on my job. Its always good to be reminded. Here are just a few thoughts and scriptures that I try to reflect on when on the job.

And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offense toward God, and toward men. –Acts 24:16

This is a mentality that we should strive to adopt in life and it makes things a whole lot easier when it comes to working. He said he “exercises” himself to have this mindset, that’s pretty deep when you think about it.

It goes back to the Psalm that says, “let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of heart, be acceptable in thy sight” -Psalms 19:14

When we practice this, we can walk around with a clear conscious, and that’s a beautiful gift that not many people can honestly claim to have.

Provide things honest in the sight of all men.-Romans 12:17

This is a biggy, because again, when we do this in life, and especially on our job, we still have that “clear consciences.” Not only that, but when we practice this we find ourselves dealing right with everything we under take, and even with the people we deal with.

Honour all men.-1 Peter 2:17

When we do this, we find ourselves dealing right with someone no matter what; no matter who they are, what they are doing, no matter what we assume, or what we perceive them to be. When we give honor to all men, we are giving a level of respect to them that the Heavenly Father requires of us as his children; and people will recognize it; especially when it comes to work. We’ll be dealing justly in every situation we find ourselves in……and the Father will recognize that and bless us because of it. On top of that, we are showing a good example, allowing Messiah to shine through us. And these actions can be a witness for (and or) against some one.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:-Hebrews 12:14

This goes along the same vein, as honoring all men, because when we follow “peace” and “holiness” with all men, we are still dealing right and justly with them. Following peace, can mean so many things; when dealing with people we are not striving with them, or dealing with them ill. And following holiness means simply following all those things that keep us separate from the world, and set apart unto our Heavenly Father and Messiah, when dealing with people.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. –Colossians 3:22-24

When it comes to our jobs, when we do it for the Heavenly Father and Christ, nothing else matters. Who ever we work for will notice the work that we do, and probably not even understand that what we do, and the effort that we put in,is not even for them but for our “Master” which is in heaven. Its interesting how Paul says when we do this we “know” that we will receive the reward of the inheritance. The inheritance that is promised to the children of the Heavenly Father far exceeds any paycheck, position, or praise of men, and that’s what our life vocation (being a servant of our Heavenly Father) aim towards, and the efforts that we put into all other aspects of our life will reflect that.

Many people work for money, power, and a whole bunch of other things. And will purposely sin, and sell themselves to sin, all for money, and gain…….

We must be mindful not to get caught up in the rat race, and not to allow the cares of this world to make us loose focus of why we live. Many people get caught up on the three things that the scriptures tell us to avoid…”the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life”…these three things continue the cycle of corruption and deceit that is in the world……and its so easy for us to get caught up in these three things, because these things appeal to the sin that is within us, and Satan and the world in which he runs plays into that weakness of our nature, and that is why the world as we know it today is saturated in the things that feed into those three things.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.-1 John 2:15-17

If we keep our focus on the Heavenly Father and Messiah through work, through out life, we will do well, we will indeed abide forever and see Eternity with our King and our Father.

We life for a higher purpose and wherever we find ourselves in life concerning the work that we do will reflect that.

And the good works that we do, build something for us far greater than any paycheck and or monetary investment may get us; that is why Messiah admonished us saying this….

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.-Matthew 6:19-21

D.A. Fluker II | January 28, 2008 10:17 AM

Seth, we're so glad to have your commitment to excellence. Faithfulness in "small things" mysteriously transforms them into big things. I love that.

Lord willing, our new First Fruits computer systems, databases and records systems will soon experience that same kind of Torah transformation that's taking place in the shipping department!

David V. | January 29, 2008 11:32 AM

Seth,

Do you ever say little blessings or prayers over the packages? For example, that the materials would be understood and put to good use to help the readers have a better understanding of the word of God...etc.

I certainly do. I know that God's Spirit is going to teach them, as the Master himself promised. Especially around Torah Club mailing time, I pray that the materials would get there in a timely fashion and not be damaged in transit.

JAY | January 29, 2008 6:12 PM