Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about why we do what we do. It’s not just writers I’m talking about. It’s every single one of us. What’s the motivation? The goal? The purpose?
I was dabbling with thinking about it last year, but then I went to a conference and I heard the wonderful Eva Marie Everson say this:
“We’re not writing to get A message out. We’re writing to get THE message out. There is no room for slacking.”
Wait… That’s not just about writing. It’s about everything we do. If we’re teachers, mail carriers, fire fighters… if we’re grocery shopping, paying bills, or mowing grass… What’s the ultimate purpose?
To glorify God.
Sit back and digest that, because I’m not really sure we understand that. It’s all about God first. Always. No matter what we’re doing. (Have you had a listen to Steven Curtis Chapman’s “Every Little Thing”? Do that now and get a musical picture of what we’re talking about here.)
Steven Curtis Chapman – Do Everything (Official Music Video) from steven-curtis-chapman on GodTube.
Sometimes we get wrapped up in the idea that serving God is for missionaries and preachers. But it’s also for janitors, CEOs, and crossing guards.
To be honest, it’s convicting, isn’t it? How often do I wash my dishes and think I need to do my best work, because I’m doing it for God? Or fold the clothes and think I should do my best for God? Or, gulp, drive my car with the idea that I should be doing it for God?
How often do I sit down to do my work and get distracted by Twitter, Facebook, that speck of dust I must simply clean off of the window right this second?
There is a quote by George Eliot, often incorrectly attributed to Stradivarius:
My work is mine,
And, heresy or not, if my hand slacked
I should rob God…
Jessica R. Patch says
Oh my!!! So convicting. So true. When I think of what I’m doing–even the mundane–as glorifying God, well let’s just say my clothes won’t have to go back in the dryer from the rumples. Rumples is a word, right?
I love this song by SCC. Thanks for such a great reminder today, Jodie. Our purpose is to glorify God in everything. Period.
Jodie says
I’m trying so hard to live this, especially since it seems like god’s been hitting me with it a lot lately. But, know what? It’s tough…