Whatever

It is commonly used as slang to show a lack of interest or disagreement. “Whatever,” someone might mutter as he walks away from an argument. “Whatever,” a student might grumble after hearing a policy she does not like. “Whatever,” a worker might say after completing a shoddy job.

But the Bible gives a different view of “whatever.” Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” The idea continues in this chapter, with verse 23 saying, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

Students can get caught in the negative “whatever” trap. I currently have a writing class where some of the students do not like to write. And that is fine, if they still try to do their best…which most of them do. But when I shared the verse above with the class today, it became evident that a few had said “whatever” and just turned in a sub-par rough draft.

Teachers need a proper view of “whatever” as well. For example, most of us would say that grading papers is not our favorite task. I am not usually a procrastinator, but I can wait as long as possible before grading those essays. Or maybe the thought of putting up another bulletin board makes you groan. We all have tasks that we could be tempted to shirk or complete half-heartedly.

So how can I “do it heartily as to the Lord”? Of course, the process begins with asking for God’s guidance and submitting to His will. But the teacher can apply some day-to-day practices and encourage students to do so as well.

Practical Tips for the Teacher To “Do It as to the Lord”

1. I can begin the day by imagining what my daily goals would be if God were the owner of my workplace. Rather than thinking of working to meet the principal’s or school board’s requirements, I am working to glorify God. In that case, I do not let trivial incidents overcome the important issues. Ultimately, each day’s goals are to bring honor to God through my teaching and to help my students grow in Him, not just to receive a paycheck.
2. I can hold myself accountable to high-quality work. One way to do this is by making definite commitments to students and co-workers. For example, since grading is not my favorite task, I promise my students that I will have essays graded by a specific date – soon. Then I have to complete their grades as promised.
3. I can model the proper attitude for my students. Staying positive with what I say and do reminds my students that they can be positive too. Re-doing something I did wrong or correcting a mistake shows the class the importance of completing a task fully and correctly.

Practical Tips for Encouraging Students To “Do It as to the Lord”

1. I can share the verses from above with my classes. The biggest benefit of teaching in a Christian school is having a foundation with which to appeal to students. When Christian teachers remind their students that what they are doing at school matters to God, the students can see that all of life’s tasks are approached from a Godly standard.
2. I can encourage students to always do their best and not settle for mediocrity. This may mean that I require them to re-do certain assignments or to finish incomplete assignments. While students may not always appreciate the push for excellence now, the patterns established during their school years can help them earnestly follow God’s leading later.
3. I can remind students that their ultimate goal is to glorify God, not to get a certain grade or even to receive a diploma. Having a proper perspective of the end goal makes each daily practice a step in the right direction.

The idea of avoiding “whatever” was not innovative in the New Testament. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” So whether it is the Apostle Paul or Solomon or today’s student or teacher, we can “do it as to the Lord.”

Photo by XinYing Lin on Unsplash