Do Your Job

One of the things I enjoy the most about being in the States for six months is all of the information on local and national sports teams. It is possible to see some games in Australia, but only on cable, and they will only show a select few games. So I soak in all of the sports info that I can during furlough.

One of the ways of doing this is listening to sports talk radio. Now I don’t agree with everything that is said on these stations (especially when the fans call in) but most of the talk radio programs are very informative. But something that I heard on one of those stations yesterday made me think about spiritual growth.

Tedy Bruschi is a linebacker for the New England Patriots, a professional football team. Yesterday after playing with them for thirteen years he called a news conference to announce his retirement. Following the news conference they played a portion of what he said that stuck in my mind.

Bruschi began talking about a sign that was inside the facility where the team trained. Although everything on that sign was important, one phrase stuck out to him as a player. It was simply the three words, “do your job”. Towards the end of his retirement speech he turned around and said to his coach, “my job is done.”

Discipleship is something that the Lord has given me a deep burden for. Because of this I read lots of books and articles on the subject of Christian growth. At times it can get really confusing because each book seems to have a different way of mentoring people and motivating them to serve the Lord (and sometimes it seems as if each author thinks that their way is the only one which works). This is not only confusing but also frustrating since all of the growth philosophies are founded upon Scripture.

Those three words “do your job” spoke to me this morning as I thought about Christian growth. Maybe we are making it too complicated or confusing for people. Perhaps all the steps, charts, graphs, and alliterated outlines are actually making things worse! Is it possible that all a person needs to follow in order for growth to come is “do you job”?

Now each one of us have specific callings from God for our lives. But many times the Lord also has certain things which he desires for us to accomplish each day. And growth could simply involve finding out what those things are, and doing them. The graphs, charts, and mission statements are also useful, but only if they lead us towards the accomplishment of the goals God has for our lives.

Maybe it is more complicated than just doing your job. But there is still a part of me that wants to complete the Will of God for my life through his strength. So that someday I can say to Him that the job is done.