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Bible Verse for Bonus Day: To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—that is indeed a gift from God Ecclesiastes 5:19.

I remember, as a boy, going with my father to the garage where we had our car serviced. As I stood on the front bumper to watch the mechanic work on our car's engine, he brought his grease-covered hand up to scratch his nose, leaving a thick smudge on his face. "Yuck," I exclaimed to my dad. "I'll never be a mechanic. Greasy hands are gross!"

Immediately Dad lifted me from the bumper, took me to a private area, and explained my offense. "Son, that man is doing something very important that neither of us can do. God gifted him so he could pass along the benefit to us. Never suggest a person's work is unimportant, insignificant or, least of all, gross!"

When the mechanic's work was done, my dad let me hand him the money. I recall my surprise at the cost of the repair. After paying, Dad asked if there was anything I wished to tell the mechanic. Having been coached, I said, "Sir, thank you for getting your hands dirty so we could drive our car home. My dad told me that if I wasn't grateful, I could walk home and use the time to think about how important your work is."

He graciously accepted my thanks, and I was glad to be given a ride home.

—Fil Anderson in The Transformation of a Man's Heart

My Response: Have I gained or retained a similar respect for the dignity of any work well-performed?

Adapted from The Transformation of a Man's Heart (InterVarsity Press, 2006) by permission.

Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine. Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me to be Your faithful ambassador in the occupation to which You have called me.

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