Give your best as you work, to bring glory to the Lord

Religion Columnist

When asked to substitute for my Sunday School class, I felt honored. It was up to me to decide whether I wanted to show a video or prepare a lesson. I chose the latter. The first thing I did was pray that God would direct me to what He would have me share. As I prayed, a Bible passage kept coming to mind: Judges 4.

I wasn’t sure this was what I should share so I kept praying and yet this passage kept coming back to me. I decided it was best not to keep questioning God, so I began by reading the chapter. Although I have read through the Bible several times, this time I saw something new.

While the passage was the main thing, I studied about women’s roles and customs in the Bible to give me a better outlook. Then I studied commentaries and listened to Bible studies on the chapter. I prayed for guidance the entire time I was doing this.

The more I studied, the more excited I became as the chapter led me to several verses throughout the Bible on God’s faithfulness when he calls us to do a task. If He calls us to do something, He will see us through it. Among the passages were Psalm 33:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, 2 Timothy 1:7, and Hebrews 10:23.

This summer, I fell far behind in Bible Study. I knew something was missing but I seemed too busy to get into the Word. Now that I was studying, I had a new excitement for God’s Word.

Not many were in attendance for the class, but that didn’t discourage me. I didn’t regret for a moment all the studying I did because it got me back on the right track. The next day I picked up my Bible and as I was reading, a passage came to mind; so I turned to it. Lamentations 3:20-23 says, “My soul hath them still in remembrance and is humbled in me. This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness”.

Through God’s mercy I had the opportunity to make a fresh start in Bible study, after all it was a new morning. It was also a wakeup call to do my best in everything I do because ultimately I am doing it for the Lord and not merely man.

A new school year is upon us and even though I don’t have children in school, I keep up through friends who are teachers, students and parents. Teachers are already preparing for their classes and parents are busy buying school supplies and new school clothes. Students are enjoying their last days of sleeping in.

It is easy for me to look back at my school days and wish I had worked harder. I never enjoyed math, especially algebra -- and did just enough to get by. This proved to be a hard lesson in later life when I realized I didn’t need to settle for a grade of “C.”

This past week was a wakeup call for me and I hope I can encourage others to do their very best at whatever job or task they are doing. May we always be mindful that we aren’t doing things just for ourselves or others.

We are giving our best to bring glory to the Lord.

Debra Whittington is a longtime resident of Tucumcari. Contact her at:

[email protected]