Lessons from the Prologue of the Rule of St. Benedict to Get Your Work Day Started

Let's return again to the Rule of St. Benedict for some inspiration today. By way of reminder, one of our running threads comes from this masterful rule for monks composed by St. Benedict (480 - 543 or 547). We're not alone in recognizing its value as a kind of manual for laymen. It provides excellent lessons about work, management, leadership, etc., lessons that help all of us, whether workers, managers, or business owners.

So with the New Year still unfolding, let's right away go to the Prologue of The Rule where we're reminded of the importance of obedience. For a monk, obedience lies at the center of his daily life. Monks follow the dictates of the rule of their monastery, as well as those of their Abbot. This discipline helps to squelch the self-centered, egotistically driven life most of us lead. St Benedict urges his monks to...

...freely accept and faithfully fulfill the instructions of a loving father, that by the labor of obedience thou mayest return to him from whom thou has strayed by the sloth of disobedience...

Of course, we laymen don't report to an Abbot. But that doesn't mean we can't benefit from obedience.We're not necessarily talking here about doing what the boss says - although that may be a perfectly valid and good idea, depending on the sort of job you have. St Benedict's words can help us broaden our understanding of the role of obedience in our work lives, when he advises:

...renouncing thine own will to fight for the true King, Christ, dost take up the strong and glorious weapons of obedience...

Success at work depends on us renouncing our own will, doesn't it? If you only focus your time and energy on "getting what you want" - a raise, a promotion, recognition, etc. - what happens to the business at hand? By renouncing your will, you can utilize your skills and talents on accomplishing those tasks and achieving those objectives that advance the enterprise. And without a successful enterprise, your chances of getting that raise, promotion, or a pat on the back will be greatly diminished.

Just as your contributions on the job depend on considering the needs of others on the job rather than your own, so too will the desire to do your work perfectly. Here St. Benedict directs our hearts and minds to God as we go about our work each day: 

...whatever good work thou undertakest, ask him with most instant prayer to perfect it.

St Benedict tops off his advice here with an eminently practical suggestion:

...we must always so serve him with the gifts which he has given us... 

He understood that each of us brings our own individual personality, skills, talents, etc. to the job. That which is good about us comes from God. Recognizing this from the get-go takes the focus - again - off of us. Instead of the good we do feeding our egos, our deference to Our Lord's generosity in giving us whatever gifts we possess will sanctify our work and draws us closer to Him.

These few phrases from St. Benedict provide the perfect framework for us to approach our work each day. You can derive great spiritual and practical benefits from heeding his advice. In addition you will contribute more to the success of the enterprise for which your work and the well-being of your fellow workers.