Chapter XLIII: True Idea of Service. — How to Correspond to It

BUT in order to gain all the advantage the Lord offers you, you must bear in mind the conditions he requires of you: “Servants, be obedient in all things to your masters, not serving to the eye as pleasing men, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God. Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

That means, Do your duty, and do it well. Do it as well as if you saw the Lord looking at you, and were doing it for Him. Do not at all consider who your employer may be, but look at Christ.

If the mistress is ill-favored and ill-tempered, or handsome and gracious, let it be all one to you. Our Blessed Saviour is beautiful and gracious enough, and, after all, it is He whom you are serving.

Suppose the mistress is overbearing and hard to please— it’s “Bridget, here” and “Bridget, there,” without rhyme or reason; never mind — every time you go here or go there the Lord is pleased and delighted with your ready and cheerful obedience to that overbearing and difficult mistress.

Suppose your mistress is fussy, and thinks she knows a good deal more than she does know, and wants to have her own way, when your way is better; let her have her own way; obey readily and pleasantly; that is the way to please the Lord.

Suppose she scolds you unjustly, when you have committed no fault; bear it patiently: let the storm blow over. For it is the Lord that has placed her over you, and who says, “Obey in all things” — that is to say, where there is no sin or wrong.

And this is true whatever may be your employment, whether in the shop or in the factory, or if you do work at home for others, endeavor to be as faithful and as willing as if you were working for our Lord Himself.

If you think there is just cause of complaint, or you could better your condition elsewhere, you are at liberty to leave; but as long as you are there observe this line of conduct, and your service will be all for the Lord.

You know how it is when you look out of the window at a pleasant prospect; you do not stop to consider the glass you look through. So do not stop to consider the faults or imperfections of your employers; see only Jesus, your Master and your best Friend, shining through them. If you live with a Jew, or a heathen even, that makes no difference; only consider that they represent the Lord to you. Try in every way to show obedience, respect, and duty to them.

If a little, dirty, impudent girl were to bring a message to you from your mistress, you would not consider who brings it, but who sends it, and you would obey it. So think — no matter who your employers may be — that all their commands have been sent by the Lord to you, through their means, and that you are fulfilling them for Him. That is the way the saints looked at things, and they delighted in nothing so much as to do that kind of work which others despised.