Galatians 6:4
‘Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud
of. But don’t compare yourself with others’
To make the best of ourselves we really need to take a pride
in everything we do. It does not matter how big or small a task is, it must
command our concentration and we should make every effort to complete each task
to the best of our ability. Something as simple as making a hot drink can be
done with care in order to avoid spillages and to make a great tasting
beverage! Especially when making a drink for someone else- it’s really not nice
being handed a cup of tea in a dirty looking mug or one that has slopped over.
The better we do our work the more we can achieve. If you
work steadfastly at a task and complete it you will feel satisfied and ready
for the next job as opposed to feeling as if you are not achieving anything
much. Making a list of jobs is very good for boosting our sense of achievement.
We are told in this verse not to compare ourselves with
others. There are a number of reasons why this is good advice. The most obvious
is that we are individuals and have different talents. Some people can finish
their work quickly whilst others take more time. Provided you reach your
targets speed is immaterial- unless you are exceptionally slow or aiming for employee of the year!
Quality is always key, whether producing a tangible product or giving advice- if you can go that extra mile when advising someone they usually appreciate your efforts.
When we are busy comparing ourselves we may become overly proud and gloat or
have a confidence crash if we consider that we are not doing well by other
people’s standards. Keep your focus and provided you work well consistently you can be proud of
your performance.
Besides traditional work we can apply this attitude to any
form of self- improvement. You have a starting point and work from there taking
care to practice aspects you have identified. This could be simple- eg: doing a
good deed a day or taking more care with communication, choosing words
carefully to encourage others rather than speaking off the top of your head.
This is a good verse to take forwards into the New year and
help you to advance well during 2014.
Jaz McKenzie
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