That Is Not My Job by M. A. Loper

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 30, 1902

“That Is Not My Job”

By M. A. Loper

MRS. M. A. LOPER

Suppose it is not your job. Perhaps the proper performance of it, if you are out of employment, may help you to secure a job of your own. In these days when so many are seeking employment, those standing at the head of our different institutions are the recipients of numerous requests for positions, accompanied, perhaps, with recommendations from those who may have an influence in securing for them the desired employment. And many times people have been accepted on these recommendations only to prove a disappointment to their employers, their recommendations having been obtained, perhaps, through friendship, through sympathy, or merely because they were solicited, when it may be the writers knew nothing of the individual’s qualifications except in a general way.

The best recommendation one can possibly have is good, faithful service; and any individual who is willing to put forth the efforts necessary to obtain the enviable reputation of a conscientious, energetic worker, will make a success of life against all odds. He will neither shrink at the Slough of Despond, nor give heed to the lions in the way; for he knows that perseverance in the right direction will conquer every difficulty.

An army of workers is employed in carrying on the details of business at the present time; but even among the professed followers of Christ all are not faithful to duty. The conscientious employee performs his tasks with equal faithfulness when the employer’s back is turned; for he realizes that there is One who takes knowledge of every detail, and that he must surely meet his life record by and by. It is a pleasure for such a worker to be accommodating, to lend a hand to help others whenever opportunity is offered. How different is his life-work from that of him who aims to do only that which is required of him; who circumscribes his sphere of usefulness to such an extent that he fails to realize the blessing gained in helping some poor soul who is overburdened, or in putting forth an extra effort now and then to further the interests of the institution in which he is employed. He seems to excuse his lack of interest by saying to himself, “That is not my job;” and to have entered the work more for the benefits which he hopes to receive than for the purpose of becoming a blessing to the world.

“But,” says one, “people are not all constituted alike.” Very true. But whether one’s talents be few or many, the great Giver requires equal faithfulness on the part of every soul. And that individual who possesses ten talents along with a slothful constitution, has something to overcome in order that his record may be equal to that of him who possesses but one talent, but who is faithful in the little work which he is able to accomplish. It is not the amount of money one puts upon the contribution plate that counts, but the amount of sacrifice that goes with it. So it is not the number of talents one possesses which tells, but the faithfulness with which those talents are employed for the bettering of mankind.

Selfishness and slothfulness—the sentiment, “That is not my job”—keep many talented people from ever reaching success in any department of work. But God will help any individual to overcome these besetments who will cooperate with him in the undertaking.

How well I recall a youth who was permitted to share the comforts of a private home during a protracted period while pursuing a college course. He was talented, and fond of books; and consequently his reputation as a student was very commendable. But to him it was a much more agreeable task to master his lessons than it was to master the odd chores that fell to his lot by way of compensating for his board. The mental duties were much more easily seen and undertaken than were those which called for muscular energy. And had that youth pursued the course which his natural make-up indicated, he surely never would have realized the success which is his to-day. But he desired to follow Christ. And there is no such thing as a lazy Christian. He whose mental qualifications, when a mere child, were sufficient to confound the learned doctors and lawyers of his time, was also his father’s helpful assistant at the carpenter’s bench. And he just as surely leads his followers into the domain of physical exercise as into the realm of mental effort.

Time rolled on, and a gradual change came into the life of that young man. Instead of permitting himself to be a burden, he seemed to make it a matter of conscience to help lift the burdens of others wherever he might be; to be thoughtful of the comfort of others under all circumstances. God helped him in his efforts to overcome, and to-day he is an earnest worker for the Master.

The true Christian is the only one who ever really succeeds in life—and he always succeeds. For in following Christ, all selfishness and slothfulness are abandoned, and he lives to labor for the good of others. He does not slight the unexpected opportunity for doing good. It may require time that might be devoted to his own selfish interests. It may require some expenditure of muscular energy. It may, in fact, be something that is very distasteful to his natural heart. But instead of seeking consolation in the thought, “That is not my job,” and employing his time for his own selfish interests, he hails it as a precious privilege to get in a little extra time for the Master, as it were, and he does it, whether he feels like it or not; and he receives a blessing in so doing.

The Christian is in the world for service. He does not remain idle simply because he cannot be favored with such work as might, perhaps, be most agreeable. If he does not find a vacancy where he wants it, he accepts what he can get, knowing that—

“The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight; But they, while their companions slept, Were upward toiling in the night.”

The Christian prefers humble service to idleness, knowing that it is better to begin below the position he desires, and by persevering faithfulness work up to it, than to secure some high position at the start, and not be able to maintain it. And he performs his tasks, however menial, so cheerfully and so thoroughly that in time his services are considered indispensable; and it is not surprising that he should receive promotion.

Some time ago I heard a lecture to boys and girls, in which instructive lessons were drawn from the flowers. The weak foxtail, for instance, bows its head, and sways in every passing breeze, while the stately blue grass simply nods, and regains its upright position, the difference being due to the fact that the blue grass grows more sand into its structure. The Christian appreciates the privilege of growing

more sand into his structure—of acquiring that strength of character which will fit him to resist the winds of temptation, and withstand the power of discouragement, and to fill successfully any position to which God may call him.

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”