I don’t watch baseball as an adult, but a ballplayer from my childhood shaped my life. The Cincinnati Reds of the 1970’s were called “The Big Red Machine,” and they dominated the sport during that time. I was a fan of Johnny Bench and even tried to be a catcher on the teams of my youth. One of the biggest stars of the team was Pete Rose.

Pete was nicknamed “Charlie Hustle.” It started as a joke when players saw him giving a full effort during an exhibition game. Oddly, he embraced the name and wore it like a badge of honor. The idea was that he would give full effort in everything he did. He was especially known for running to first base when a pitcher walked him.

What I loved about Pete was that he seemed like such a blue-collar guy. He didn’t seem to have many God-given abilities like height or speed, but he made up for it with a strong work ethic.

His example, along with my father’s, became a model for my life. I have very few natural skills. I can’t recall ever receiving any handouts from friends or special advancement because of my family tree. Everything I do has come through God’s plan and hard work. I live by the mantra, “Pray knowing everything depends on God, and work as though everything depends on me.”

The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Colossae, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Paul describes his own ministry as hard work in his second letter to the Corinthians and in both letters to those in Thessalonica. Repeatedly, he commends his hard work and the work of others. In fact, heaven is described as a place where we will receive “rest for our labors.”

God loves hard work. Your job is a place where you can serve him by giving a full effort every single day. If you set your hand to a task at your place of employment, a volunteer organization, or in the work of the Church, give it your full effort. Sure, someone may stand back, laugh, and call you “Charlie Hustle,” but I encourage you to embrace it, since the alternative is “Lazy Susan.”