You.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes nine, verse ten morning arrived extra early one Monday. That's early as in pre 06:00 a.m.. Early. No, it wasn't the pesky woodpecker serving as my wake up call. It wasn't the obnoxious crows that sometimes inhabit the tree next door. It wasn't my dog, either. No, the alarm clock that Monday morning was provided by the city's garbage collector. Normally, this city ambassador doesn't show up quite so early on Monday mornings. He normally isn't so noisy either. But on that particular morning, well, let me just tell you that this was not a normal garbage collecting day. I can't imagine why the guy in the fancy garbage man uniform was so obnoxiously loud that day. Maybe he was mad at someone down in the block, or maybe someone on the city council. Or maybe just his wife. Whatever the case, the man obviously wanted others to share in his misery. It was almost time to get up anyway, so I couldn't complain too much. But if being awakened too early had put my wife in a bad mood that she had then taken out on me, well, then I would have had real issues with Mr. Garbage man. Since I'm thinking about that garbage guy, I am reminded of a story you might find funny. A father asked his young son what he wanted to be when he grew up. The boy replied, I'm going to be a garbage man. Surprised, the father smiled and said, really? Why do you want to do that? Well, said the boy, the garbage man is like our preacher. They both work just one day a week. But the garbage man only works on Friday, and I'd like to have my Sundays free. Whether garbage guy, preacher, or whatever else you might choose to be in life, remember this. The Bible says we ought to do it to the best of our ability. Just make sure that you don't wake people up too early while you're doing so.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected]. Have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.