“Whoa! There’s a parking space right up front! Surely the Lord is with me,” I exclaimed triumphantly. I deftly pulled into the spot, placed the car in park, and turned the ignition off only to be confronted with this sign: “Reserved for Employee of the Month.”

“If he’s the employee of the month, why isn’t he at work?” I muttered under my breath. I started the car and backed out to park much farther from the store than I had hoped.

I don’t know what constitutes “employee of the month” criteria, but having supervised numerous security teams in the corporate world, I could speculate. Punctuality, integrity, professionalism, courteousness, organized, reliable, trustworthy, and always present when assigned are a few that come to mind. Occasionally there may be some exceptional act performed that merits favorable consideration.

The Marine Corps has similar recognition programs as well. I was stationed in Charleston, South Carolina, for about a year before I returned to Vietnam for my second tour. I had been reduced in rank (busted) from Sergeant to Corporal and I wanted that stripe back. Within a few months, I was awarded the “Marine of the Quarter” plaque and promoted back to my previous rank. It’s not too difficult to apply yourself in the short haul. It’s the long haul that is challenging.

It started me thinking about how God would evaluate my job performance. He is, after all, my boss. As freedom-loving Americans, we don’t like the word “servant,” and we especially dislike the term “bond slave,” a term used frequently by the Apostle Paul to define his relationship to God. An honest self-assessment is in order as I examine my Christian growth. Am I reliable? Do I show up on Sunday morning and for the weekly Bible study? Am I a “fair weather” Christian, or am I living as Paul encouraged the Roman believers?

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:9-18, ESV)

I need to have the Apostle Paul’s attitude with regard to my God-ordained employment here on earth.

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)

This concept applies to all Christian service. Woe to me if I do not live out my earthly employment in a God-honoring way. My reward is a heavenly one, not an earthly one.

As I seek to live this life loving and serving King Jesus, one day I’ll pull up to my heavenly parking space. I pray the sign will read, “Ron, faithful servant.”

What say ye, Man of Valor?
Semper Fidelis!