Do you ever feel tempted to give less than your best effort? Today, we’re talking about working with all your heart in everything you do! Join us below to see why it matters!
Why Working With All Your Heart Matters
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23).
Mom’s Thoughts on Working With All Your Heart:
Do you have a favorite class at school? One of my favorite classes in middle school was art class. I was creative, and I loved to paint, sculpt, and create artwork with my hands. I also admired our art teacher and wanted to please her.
One afternoon, our assignment was to create a piece of artwork that could be used as a stamp. We were to cut shapes out from a thin sheet of rubber and glue them onto a piece of cardboard. After the project dried, we could dip it into paint and use it as a stamp.
I was having fun goofing around with my friends that afternoon in art class, and I didn’t put my best effort into making my stamp. I cut a few shards of rubber, glued them onto the cardboard, and gave a half-hearted effort at making a picture.
I’ll never forget the look on my art teacher’s face when she saw my sloppy project. Shaking her head, she told me she expected better from me and was very disappointed. She then set the project on the table and walked away.
I immediately felt horrible. I knew I’d let my teacher down. I’d given a half-hearted effort, and I was ashamed of myself.
That night, I went home and found an old rubber innertube in my parents’ barn. I went to my room and spent over an hour cutting an exquisite design of a beagle sitting in front of a fireplace—carefully gluing the rubber to a piece of cardboard I found in the basement.
The next morning, I humbly walked to the art room, apologized to the teacher, and asked if I could have a second chance. I’ll never forget the smile on her face when I showed her my new project. I also learned a life-long lesson: Never give less than your best. God wants us to put our whole hearts into everything we do, whether it’s a homework assignment, household chore, or even investing in a relationship.
Bekah’s Thoughts (Girl to Girl):
Sometimes we all feel lazy. Sometimes we all slack off. However, that doesn’t mean we should be lazy and slack off!
Have you ever had to do something that you didn’t really want to do? Do you ever not put your full effort into tasks you don’t enjoy? It’s tough to give lots of effort when you’re doing something you don’t enjoy, but it’s important to put your full effort into everything—after all, work hard, play hard!
Once, I had to take a test that I didn’t want to take. Sadly, I didn’t put my full effort into it, and I ended up getting a not-so-great grade. It was a good lesson for me: A poor effort often leads to poor results!
Talk About It:
- Describe a time when you gave a half-hearted effort on a school project, during a sporting event, or on a chore or project at home. How did the situation turn out?
- Why does God tell us to give our whole hearts when it comes to working hard?
- In which area of your life might God be asking you to give more of a whole-hearted effort?
Pray Together:
Lord God, thank you that you desire excellence for us. Help us remember to put our whole hearts into everything we do. Help us remember we are working for you and not just for other people. Am
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on In Between the Lines
Featured Image by Barbara Jackson from Pixabay
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