There is a moment in every race where I have to decide if I am going to put it all out there on the road or just cruise and take it easy. It usually becomes a debate where I argue the case that no-one is going to care, that it is not that important, that doing my best is not strictly required in this case.

It is a temptation to compromise, and as such an attack on my values. This verse below describes my work ethics in a nutshell:

Strictly speaking running does not fall under work, so I don’t have a “human master”, but it is part of “whatever you do” so I feel it is only right that I give my very best for Him who has given me the talent, the time, the good health, the energy, and everything else.

Taking the easy road is the nature of all wrongdoing. Compromising our standards. I’ve seen runners in races deliberately cut corners to shorten their distance, hoping no one notices. They cross the finish line with a false time, and while they might fool the clock, they know the truth. That kind of shortcut, cheating, isn’t really about efficiency; it’s about avoiding the full challenge and the discomfort that comes with it.

Let’s say a student takes it slow early on in the course. So he has an easy time while others work hard. But, at the end, it becomes so much harder for that student since he has to pull all-nighters, and cram things into his head which other students already understand.

Or let’s say someone doesn’t want to wait until they are married before being intimate. So, they have the fun earlier, but since there isn’t full commitment, the relationship may break up. The pain in losing this relationship is so much more and it can also cause difficulties with subsequent relationships. And if there is a pregnancy it becomes even harder. These types of shortcuts aren’t worth it.

Now, I’m not saying that all efficiency is bad; working smarter is different from compromising your standards. Using technology wisely or finding a better method isn’t wrong. But there’s a clear difference between strategic thinking and cutting corners morally or avoiding the hard work that integrity requires.

Not putting in the consistent work and then trying to run a PB (Personal Best) in a race sets you up for failure. But, if you are prepared and then shy away from the pain that giving your very best causes, that falls short of both your potential and your calling.

The sense of satisfaction at a job well done is a powerful reward that makes the pain worth it. That feeling when you’ve held nothing back, when you know you gave everything you had, that’s irreplaceable. Giving less than the best you can give may also get the job done, but you lose that sense of satisfaction and the “well done” from God. And ultimately, it’s His approval that matters most; not the applause of the crowd, not even our own comfort, but hearing “well done” from Jesus, our true Leader.