The best way to do satisfying work is to do it for the Lord.

Going to the grocery store isn’t something I particularly enjoy. It’s just a mundane part of life—something that has to be done.

我不是特别喜欢去采买日用品，对我而言，这只是日常生活单调平凡的一部分，就是一件必须要做的事情而已。

But there is one part of this task I’ve unexpectedly come to look forward to: checking out in Fred’s lane. Fred, you see, turns checkout into show time. He’s amazingly fast, always has a big smile, and even dances (and sometimes sings!) as he acrobatically flips (unbreakable) purchases into a plastic bag. Fred clearly enjoys a job that could be seen as one of the most tedious around. And for just a moment, his cheerful spirit brightens the lives of people in his checkout lane.

但没想到在我买东西时，还有让我可以期待的事，那就是到阿德的柜台结帐。阿德能把结帐变成他的个人表演。他的动作快得出奇，总是笑容满面，甚至还会一边跳舞（有时还会唱歌），一边像表演杂耍一样将（摔不破的）商品抛进袋子里。显然阿德热爱他的工作，即使这份工作常被看作是最无聊乏味的。在那一刻，他雀跃的心情照亮了所有排队等候结帐的人。

The way Fred does his job has won my respect and admiration. His cheerful attitude, desire to serve, and attention to detail all line up well with the apostle Paul’s description of how we are to work in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

阿德的工作态度赢得了我的敬佩和赞赏。他的态度积极、热心服务、细腻专注，精准地呈现了保罗在歌罗西书3章23节所说，基督徒应有的工作态度：“无论做什么，都要从心里做，像是给主做的。”

When we’re in relationship with Jesus, any job we have to do gives us an opportunity to reflect His presence in our lives. No task is too small . . . or too big! Tackling our responsibilities—whatever they may be—with joy, creativity, and excellence gives us an opportunity to influence those around us, no matter our job.  

当我们与耶稣同行，每件工作都是我们展现自己拥有基督生命的好机会。没有哪件工作微不足道，也没有哪件工作大到我们承受不了。不论我们的责任是什么，只要克尽职守，以喜乐、创意、卓越的能力完成，都是能够影响他人的好机会！

Lord, help me to tackle everything on my plate today with grace, enthusiasm, and joy, knowing that my attitude may affect others in ways I’m not even aware of.

Colossians 3:18-23     NIV

3 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

歌罗西书 3:18-23 

3 你们做妻子的，当顺服自己的丈夫，这在主里面是相宜的。 19 你们做丈夫的，要爱你们的妻子，不可苦待她们。 20 你们做儿女的，要凡事听从父母，因为这是主所喜悦的。 21 你们做父亲的，不要惹儿女的气，恐怕他们失了志气。 22 你们做仆人的，要凡事听从你们肉身的主人；不要只在眼前侍奉，像是讨人喜欢的，总要存心诚实敬畏主。 23 无论做什么，都要从心里做，像是给主做的，不是给人做的。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

In his letters, the apostle Paul will often soar in the atmosphere of heavy theology, and then at other times he brings it down to everyday life with practical instructions. Today’s passage is an example of the latter. The list of instructions given in Colossians 3:18–23 and a similar list in Ephesians 5:22–6:4 are known as household codes. In these passages Paul describes how to relate to each other in our various roles—as a spouse, child, father, slave, or master. Colossians 3:23 caps this code with a well-known verse that many of us use to remind us to work for the Lord at our jobs—whether the boss is difficult or in our corner, whether our coworkers support us or are trying to undermine our efforts. Working for the Lord, however, is not restricted to our places of work. Wives, husbands, children, fathers, slaves, and masters are to fulfill their roles as to the Lord.

在保罗的书信中，他有时会在浓郁的神学氛围中翱翔，但其他时候又将实用的教导融入日常生活。今天阅读的经文乃属于后者。歌罗西书3章18-23节的教导与以弗所书5章22节至6章4节的论述相似，都是属于家庭规范。在这几段经文中，保罗讲到我们身为配偶、儿女、父亲、仆人或主人的，应该如何彼此相待，并以歌罗西书3章23节来总结这段教导。许多人都会用这节众所周知的经文提醒自己，在工作时是为主而做，不管老板是难以相处，或是对我们照顾有加；不管同事是支持我们，或是暗中破坏我们的努力。然而，为主而做并不仅限于我们的职场，无论是做妻子、丈夫、儿女、父亲、仆人或主人，都要各尽其职，像是为主做的。

What might it mean for you to work for the Lord with joy as a spouse, child, or parent?

身为配偶、儿女或父母，你要如何喜乐地为主而做呢？