Easy to Take Advantage

                It is easy to forget sometimes why it is I do what I do. The feeling that everything is pointless normally strikes me the hardest when my son is yelling at the top of his lungs and trying to push himself out of my arms because he is tired but does not want to be put to sleep. I normally give in pretty quickly and lay him down to play, but he only yells more because he realizes just how tired he really is. Even though this is my situation now, I can remember having those pointless days in every place that I have worked. It is especially hard to stay motivated when you have no one to talk to in your position and you feel as if you spend your days alone.

                In Matthew 24 Jesus gives us some very sobering words about what will happen at the end of the world. He warns us of the signs we will see and tells us that many people will try to lead us astray. Then He gives a parable and says that a Master puts his worker in charge of taking care of the household and feeding them at the proper time. The Master does not return when He is expected, but when He does return if He finds the worker doing his job, He will be rewarded. On the other hand, if the Master finds the worker taking advantage of His absence and abandoning the job he was given, He will tear the worker apart.

                The Lord has given each one of us work to do for Him. Right now the work He has given me is to care for my husband, son, and nurture the other relationships in my life. It seems very menial at times to do this work and sometimes I think anyone could be filling my position, but Matthew 24 reminds us to be faithful with the work God has given us. In light of this, I must ask myself if the Lord were to walk in on me, would He find me being faithful at what He has given me to do? Or do I take advantage of the freedom He has given me to neglect the people He has placed in my life? Do I use this freedom to give the Lord a bad name or indulge my own selfish wants?

                Lord, please help me to be faithful with what You have given me. Help me not to view the work you give me as meaningless but know that all the people you have put in my life are important to You and help me to trust that You have given me all that I need to do. Amen.