The overseer replied, "She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter."(Ruth 2:6-7)
Ruth volunteered to work, did her work diligently, only took a short break, and worked hard enough for someone to notice. I was feeling convicted of my time management so I tried something new today. I wanted to have Ruth's work ethic and motivation. It's so easy to get distracted at work, and when I do, it's hard to get back to concentrating on what I'm doing. I'm not saying that I don't do anything all day, I just know that I could do better. My biggest "between tasks" distractions involve the internet. (It's really easy to turn into this Working Girl if you're not careful.) So I kept the browser closed and didn't check my personal email except for during lunch and after work, and I didn't even get on to Facebook until after work. It was a little bit hard at first to hear my phone buzz with a new email and not instantly check it, but at the end of the day I had a total of 8 emails. And only 2 of them really required me to reply.
I avoided so much distraction and I
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.(Proverbs 22:29)
I think it's a great practical thing to do. The email can wait until lunch time, and Facebook is a TIME. SUCKER. I'm going to continue this tomorrow (while I'm praying for temptation to play on the internets stays away) and I have a feeling that it could turn into a modified Facebook fast like what I did for Lent last year. Yes, that's right, Facebook. Your days are numbered. Again.
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.(Gen. 1:15)
Work began with God, when He created the earth. It has been around for all time, and he assigned Adam some work in the Garden. I think it's important to remember that we work out of reverence to God and should do it with that kind of heart attitude. It's sort of a disappointment to just waste the day to Mark Zuckerberg's creation instead of what God has asked of you.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.(Colossians 3:22)
(You can not deny that this verse relates to you if you're one of the "quick minimizers" who is really good at switching windows when you hear footsteps...)
My next project is to actually fill my evenings with "fun" work instead of being idle. It's so easy to turn on the TV, open the computer and put a dent in the couch cushions for a night. I know this because I did that exact thing tonight. oops! I have a long list of things to do that will only get done if I'm actually intentional about doing them.
Sow your seed in the morning,(Eccl. 11:6)
and at evening let your hands not be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
1 comments:
don't work TOO hard though. there's nothing wrong with rest (i'm DEFINITELY learning THAT right now, as you'll see if you hit my blog).
it's awesome to see that you're really taking charge and doing what you should be doing. it's awesome to see you change your life TODAY. not TOMORROW. not NEXT WEEK. not STARTING JAN 1ST. right now. THAT is something that i'm sure puts a smile on God's face. living intentionally is really hard work, but oh man, is it SO worth it.
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