CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 687

“Cathedral Builders”

Colossians 3:22 (ESV) Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

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A story is told about three laborers in a rock quarry that all performed the same work for the same supervisor. All three were asked by a visitor to describe their job. The first laborer responded, “I break rocks”. The second laborer responded, “I break rocks for lousy wages and for an evil boss who is always on my case to do better”. The third laborer responded, “I am building a cathedral for the Glory of God”

The story illustrates three very different perspectives and work ethics from coworkers in the same work environment. These types of work ethics are very much evident in our workplaces today.

RENTERS – The first type of attitude we have is the worker who does their job, and no more. They are there for the paycheck and will do what they are told. They rent their job position and will not contribute extra efforts, ideas, or work beyond their assigned task. This person will walk past the trash on the floor and not bother to pick it up because it is not their assigned job to do so. In our rock quarry example, this worker ‘breaks rocks’ for a living.

DESTROYERS – This worker is a Renter with a bad attitude. They do what they are told but with constant complaining and grumbling. In their mind they are not paid enough and the quality of their work is poor because they believe they are undervalued. These people are a constant drain on the morale of others and are a negative force and influence in the work environment.

CATHEDRAL BUILDERS – These are workers who are career-minded and have an ‘ownership’ instead of a ‘renters’ attitude. They see the big picture and are eager to earn the right to advance in their role and responsibilities by doing every assigned task to the best of their ability no matter how menial. These are the workers who eagerly contribute ideas to make things better and willingly do more than they are asked to do.

As professed Christians, we must never be seen as Renters or Destroyers in the work environment. God expects us to obey our employers with sincerity and not with lip service. Our obedience is to stem from our reverence for our Lord, Jesus. Our work is never to be done half-heartedly and with poor quality. We are to be ‘cathedral builders’, not just ‘rock breakers’. We are to perform our work as if we are working for Jesus.

It is not easy maintaining a Cathedral Builder attitude. Your co-workers will persecute you and ridicule you as a ‘kiss-up’. It will be easier to ‘fit in’ if you succumb to the Renter or Destroyer culture. Also, those in authority over you may feel threatened by your attitude and improvement ideas. They may seek to squelch your career-mindedness and force you to be a Renter which is easier for them to manage and less threatening.

Dead fish flow downstream with the current. It takes a revolutionary, dogged, determined attitude to go against the flow and swim against the current. You must resist the pressure to be reduced to the lowest common denominator attitude in the company. Remember, it is the Lord Christ that you are serving. You are a light bearer in a dark world – don’t let the wet blankets of darkness douse your light.

The key that breaks the chains that hold your coworkers in bondage is prayer. Pray for the company. Pray for those in authority over you. Pray for your coworkers. Start a lunchtime prayer group at work. Change may not be immediate but it will come in the Lord’s perfect time. Persevere in prayer and do not lose heart. Be a cathedral builder to the Glory of God.

Close in prayer, thanksgiving & rededication of your work to the glory of God