Are You Still Trying to Impress?

Colossians 3:23 In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly master.

No matter how humble we think we might have become, there’s always a temptation lurking deep inside somewhere telling us how wonderful it would be if we could impress other people.

It always makes me chuckle … that the moment we think of ourselves as being humble – I’m humble! – we’re anything but. But in truth, to grow in humility is a blessed release from the enormous pressure of thinking we have to impress others.

And let’s face it, they’re a fickle crowd. The very same people who were wowed by Jesus’ powerful preaching and astonishing miracles were the ones who cried “Crucify Him!” when He stood before Pontius Pilot during that fateful Passover celebration.

Could I ask you to be honest with yourself for just a moment in how you live your life; women – perhaps in how you fuss over your hair and your makeup; men – maybe in how you choose the tie you’ll wear to the office in order to, as they say, “power dress” – or whatever it is in your situation, in your context … to what extent are you making choices with the express purpose of impressing others?  

Because that leads to a yoke of slavery from which God means to deliver us.

Colossians 3:23 In all the work you are given, do the best you can. Work as though you are working for the Lord, not any earthly master.

By all means, in all that you do, do the very best you can. But instead of using your God-given talents simply to impress others, use them to glorify God. That’s where the freedom is. That’s where the fulfillment lies.

Work as though you’re working for the Lord, not to impress any earthly masters.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.