I
was helping Mom go through a few boxes this week and in the process found a
plaque with this saying:
“It
sure does make a day long when you get to work on time.”
I laughed
when I read it and wondered how many people I know think this way. As I thought
about my own work history, I believe I’ve tried to give my all in every
position, but in reality I’m sure there were times when I didn’t give 100%.
And
guess what? God has a few things to say about this topic as well.
Ecclesiastes
5:18-19 is where we’ll start. “Then I realized
that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction
in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given
him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and
possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in
his work—this is a gift of God.” I know not everyone is happy in their
work. But oh how much better life is when we accept it for what it is and
strive to be happy doing it.
Colossians
3:23-24 tells us, “Whatever you do, work
at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know
that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord
Christ you are serving.” We must put everything into our work because we
should look at it as if we are working for God. We are serving Jesus!
“Make it your ambition to lead a
quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we
told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that
you will not be dependent on anyone.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12) There is something very satisfying
about working with our hands. Knowing we can create or repair something should
be part of our ambition.
And
then in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 we see these words. "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man
will not work, he shall not eat.’” These words sound harsh, but they key
words are “will not.” We must be willing to do what we can to make our lives
better. You’ve heard it before, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”[i]
And
then there is the idea that we are to be doing good work for God. 2 Timothy
3:16-17 says, “All Scripture if
God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work.” We need to be equipped by studying God’s Word and be ready and
willing to do good works.
Ephesians
2:10 tells us, “We are God’s workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
to do.” God created us to do good things in our world so that we might give
praise to Him.
I’ve
been unemployed for nearly two years and am still looking for a job. I look
forward to the day I can once again give my all to a position. But until that
time, I will give 100% to my writing and this blog. And I will be happy!
Grace
and peace be yours in abundance,
Donna
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