Character

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking.  There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught.  ~J.C. Watts


I love this quote. J.C. Watts puts into words what my mind has been wrestling with for months. The words of this old hymn also describe my feelings:


Our Best
Hear ye the Master’s call, “Give Me thy best!”

For, be it great or small, that is His test.
Do then the best you can, not for reward,
Not for the praise of men, but for the Lord.

Every work for Jesus will be blest,
But He asks from everyone his best.
Our talents may be few, these may be small,
But unto Him is due our best, our all.

Wait not for men to laud, heed not their slight;
Winning the smile of God brings its delight!
Aiding the good and true ne’er goes unblest,
All that we think or do, be it the best.

Night soon comes on apace, day hastens by;
Workman and work must face testing on high.
Oh, may we in that day find rest, sweet rest,
Which God has promised those who do their best.

Sometimes serving God requires more than man thinks is reasonable. Sometimes it's hard to stay focused on the eternal value of the work we are doing. Sometimes there is no praise, no applause, no cheer leading, no pat on the back. But none of that matters if we can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus....remembering that He sees all. He sees when we do our best, our worst, when we are lazy, when we do things halfway, when we complain about it, when we do it cheerfully, when we have a bad attitude and when we do it heartily...as to HIM. 


In a world where the bare minimum is the average, it doesn't take much for a hard worker to stand out. Someone who is passionate about what they do....whether that "something" is working retail, babysitting children, preaching, mopping floors, teaching, running a corporation or picking up trash for the city. The world needs to see Christians who are above average in their work ethic. Going the distance, without an ulterior motive....except maybe that motivation that.... not once....not ever.... did Jesus do anything less than His best....in living, in dying, in rising, in ascending and one day....coming again. He gave us His best!


What's keeping us from giving our best back to Him?