Doing Your Work Heartily

Richard Hollerman

Years ago, I read a book, given to me by a woman in the North of America, that had been written by an African preacher. (I wish I could recall his name and address!) The thesis of the book was that we sleep too much and sit idle too much. We should perhaps sleep less.

If we were to sleep only one hour less each night, this would be 365 hours that we could give to God and His work. This would be about 9 (nine) weeks a year. How amazing! This author went on to say that if we were to sleep two (two) hours less a night, this would be about 730 extra hours a week that we would have to give to the Lord and His service! This is even more amazing! This would be about 18 extra weeks (about 40 hours a week) per year!

This made sense and I began to try to sleep less and less each night. I was already seeking to serve the Lord with all of my heart! I thought that this was a good idea! As I recall, this went on for some years! Yes, I was tired much of the time—even sleepy—but it did give me more time for the Lord!

In the last few years, I have learned another side to this matter. It is that our poor bodies do need some sleep (maybe not as much as is typical) but we do need some rest and sleep for the good of our physical bodies and to promote good physical and mental health. We know that the average person does sleep too much but we would think that perhaps my practice during those years overdid a good thing. I don’t own a TV and don’t waste precious time with non-essentials and now I do seek to get enough sleep each night, and this does give me time to pursue the Lord with all of my heart.

As I thought of this, I had to think of the instruction in Ephesians 3:23 that says, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” Yes, this encouragement is given to “slaves” (verse 22) but we think that there is something for us as well. We also think of Ecclesiastes 9:10a: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all of your might.” Although we may think of this as a questionable book, still it speaks to us! We also think of the instruction given in Romans 12:11, that we are to be “fervent in spirit” (NASB). According to W. E. Vine, this comes from the Greek, zeo, which means “to be hot, to boil” and is used metaphorically of fervency of spirit. Thus, it is used in Romans 12:11 as “fervent in spirit.”

We know that some may say that because some come from northern Europe where being on time is considered a virtue, we are so adamant on this matter. We recall how one missionary used to say that in the continent where he labored, if a meeting began at a certain time (say, 10 AM), they would not be surprised if people arrived at 11 AM! We suppose that this is the case in parts of the world where people just don’t have wrist watches or house clocks. Or maybe such people don’t value time as much as others do.

Whatever the reason, we do want to use our time well and for God’s glory. We all are given a certain amount of this precious commodity and we are expected (by God, the great Giver) to use it well. In my case, I am aware that my time belongs not to me but to God! Since He is the Giver, we are to use this “gift” for His glory. Whether we go to bed at 8 or 9 or 10 PM, let us use it well. Some go to bed later and, generally, these people get up later to compensate. We also know that some people have bodies that seem to thrive on five hours or six hours a night, while others need seven or eight. Let us all be responsible with the time that is given us—whether we speak of the time of retirement at night or the time of arising in the morning!

(We know, of course, that some—perhaps a few—may need to work during the night and sleep during the day!) We remember also that some of Christ’s own disciples seemed to have worked during the night and then, surely, they needed to sleep at some time—perhaps during the day. (How they arranged this, we don’t know! We do know that Peter, for example, was a family man who must have had some children yet he needed to sleep during the day when they would have been around—see Matthew 8:14 and Luke 4:38.

Let us seek to be responsible receivers and givers of our time and opportunities. Let us make the most of our days (for the days are evil) as Paul writes (Ephesians 5:15). Let us use this time—whether it be the time for going to bed or getting up, whether it be where we read or play, whether it be when or how we eat or work—all for God’s glory and honor! Let us seek to work heartily for God each day!