3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
7 But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.
The Macedonian church was held up as an example - a group of people who were willing to go "beyond their ability," which suggests a dramatic reliance on God. They possessed a sense of "much urgency" regarding their giving. Paul exhorted the church at Corinth to "abound in everything." Because we have received God's grace, we can respond with an exuberant love and devotion to Christ, recognizing, as Scripture teaches, we are to live our lives for His glory.
Here are some verses from Colossians 3 that can inspire us with regard to doing our very best for the Lord, the God of excellence:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Later in the chapter, we find these words:
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
A recent New York Post article lamented yet another harmful concept being perpetrated by the social media site TikTok; it quoted from one particular user:
“You’re not outright quitting your job, but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond,” explained one TikToker whose viral video helped kick off the fad. “You’re still performing your duties, but you’re no longer subscribing to the hustle-culture mentality.”The columnist, Brad Polumbo noted, "Basically, you’re not actually quitting, you just start doing the bare minimum." The piece goes on to say:
...“quiet quitting” is a terrible idea that’s only going to leave these young people much, much worse off. We’re in a recession, by the conventional definition, and while jobs numbers remain strong, it sure looks like that could change. Soon. And when it does, guess who’ll be the first name management picks for layoffs?
That’s right: the “quiet quitters” who racked up TikTok views by not only slacking at work and doing the bare minimum but bragging about it extremely publicly.
Even those who didn’t post about their “quiet quitting” exploits may still be in trouble. When times get tough, it’s the underachievers and “bare minimum” folks who are the first out the door. That’s the sad fate many are setting themselves up for if the economy continues to head south.
They’re also sabotaging their long-term economic and career prospects.
The Hill put it this way, in an article that seemed way too sympathetic toward the practice, in the name of having an improved "work-life balance;" it said that the trend is carried out by...
...mostly millennial workers or Generation Z who are quiet quitting, which some argue is an extension of the pandemic’s Great Resignation.
Almost 25 percent of workers between the ages of 35 to 44 said they would likely be quiet quitters in a recent survey from Resume Builder.
James Emery White, a pastor in Charlotte, NC, wrote this at Crosswalk.com, says the practice is, "...about coasting in the job you currently have." He also notes:
...as Kevin O’Leary, co-star on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and chairman of O’Shares ETFs, said in a CNBC video essay, quiet quitting is a horrible approach to building a career: “You have to go beyond because you want to. That’s how you achieve success.”
There is something to be said for making sure that we are not consumed by our work. Chuck Bentley of Crown Financial Ministries wrote this in a recent Christian Post piece:
While I sympathize with your desire to “get your life back,” be sure you maintain a Christian attitude towards your employer and a grateful heart for the work you have. Larry Burkett, the late founder of Crown, said:
“Work plays a very important role in our lives as believers. It provides the opportunity to put into practice spiritual principles that otherwise would be mere academics.
The way we do our work day by day provides the best exterior reflection of our commitment to serve the Lord in a real, physical way.
It doesn’t matter whether that work is in the home, on an assembly line, or in a corporate office. Our true Christian beliefs will be reflected more clearly there than in any other environment outside of the immediate family relationships.”
The Bible teaches that in whatever pursuit we have, including our work, we are directed to do our best. And, we can keep in mind that "best" does not mean "perfect." Because the quest for perfection can be all-consuming to the point that it overrides mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Pastor White, in his Crosswalk piece, addresses the potentially devastating impact that "quiet quitting" could have on the Church:
The entire debate (and there has been nothing quiet about the differing viewpoints) got me thinking about how it’s not just individuals who can quietly quit, but also churches. And here, there can be no debate on the merits of doing so. For a church to quietly quit – to coast, to do the bare minimum, to refuse to engage the mission with every fiber of its being – would be unthinkable.
He adds:
...Jesus has no stomach for churches that are not being intense.
Literally.
White refers to the hard words in Revelation chapter 3 about the church at Laodicea. He notes:
The indictment from Jesus is: “You are neither hot nor cold. You’re not on fire but you’re not dead. You’re not a passionate world-changing believer nor a devout atheist. You’re just kind of in the middle—safe, warm, comfortable.”
And, as Pastor White suggests, we should always be passionate about the mission of the Church. We are called to maintain a bold witness to the world, not a quiet, uninspired existence. Through Christ, we can strive for maximum effectiveness rather than just getting by, or "checking the boxes." In all things, we can have a sense of God's direction for us.
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