Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. —Colossians 3:23–24
In the late 1940s, an eighteen-year-old boy named Bill Slemp enlisted in the army. Unsure of what he wanted to do with his life, he determined that a stint with Uncle Sam would be a good place to start. Learning the value of respect and hard work in the military underscored what Bill’s parents had already impressed on this bright youngster.
When he returned to his home in Ohio, Bill got a job with Frigidaire®, but without a college education, he was forced to start at the bottom. His first assignment was to run the machine that wound copper wire around armatures, the central mechanism in electric motors. Knowing that this task was beneath the intelligence of most people but grateful he had been given an opportunity to work, Bill made a decision. If all I ever do for this company is wind copper wire, he silently resolved, then I’m going to be the best armature-winder Frigidaire® has ever had.
Bill’s supervisors couldn’t help but notice this young man’s tenacity. His attitude, even though he was doing unskilled work, seemed out of place. So they decided to put Bill Slemp to the ultimate test. One by one they began promoting Bill’s coworkers, young men who didn’t have the drive, work ethic, or good attitude that Bill exhibited. These laggards became Bill’s bosses. Of course, Bill noticed. He wondered how this could be happening, but he renewed his resolve. “I will be the best armature-winder this company has ever had.” So Bill wound armatures, kept his strong work habits, and showed a consistently positive attitude.
After eighteen months of seamless commitment, a senior executive approached Bill Slemp’s workstation. “Hello, Bill,” the man said. Bill was shocked that this important executive would know his name. “Would you please follow me?” he asked. “Several of my colleagues would like to meet with you.”
Nervously wiping his greasy hands on his pant legs, Bill walked into the meeting room. There were more supervisors, managers, and vice presidents than he had ever seen in one place. They invited Bill to sit down.
“Bill,” one of the men began, “we’ve all been watching you. In fact, soon after you came to work for this company, we couldn’t help but notice your diligence and superior attitude.” The man paused. “We thought you looked like something special, but we wanted to be sure. So we started promoting men around you who weren’t working as hard as you were—men who were slackers and loafers. Amazingly, none of this discouraged you. Your work never suffered; your attitude remained consistent and strong.”
Looking straight into the face of this young man, he spoke words my friend Bill Slemp never forgot: “Bill, you have just wound copper wire on your last armature.”
Twenty years later, Bill Slemp left Frigidaire® to become the chief executive officer of Potlach Industries. He left as one of the most successful senior vice presidents Frigidaire® had ever known. Several years later, I went to work for this amazing man.
In today’s passage, the apostle Paul gives us a list of things we must do every day in order to “receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord” (v. 24). He does not promise a happy home or a successful career. He only gives us the list and summarizes it this way: “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people” (v. 23).
Don’t be motivated by succeeding; be driven by faithfulness. The reward will come in unusual ways, like with Bill Slemp, probably when you least expect it.