Now Think On This
Steve Martin
“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, confirm the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90:17, NASU)
Let’s face it. Work is work. For those of us who are blessed to have a job in this financial climate, and especially one that actually enables one to pay the bills, work is work. It is a must if we are going to feed the family, provide covering, and experience the daily provision that is necessary, day in and day out.
When Adam was kicked out of Eden after the original sin, he no longer had the joy of living in the garden that had been given to him to flourish in. He was then told, as written in Gen 3:17-19, “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to what your wife said and ate from the tree about which I gave you the order, ‘You are not to eat from it,’ the ground is cursed on your account; you will work hard to eat from it as long as you live. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat field plants. You will eat bread by the sweat of your forehead till you return to the ground — for you were taken out of it: you are dust, and you will return to dust.” (Complete Jewish Bible)
Work resulted as a result of his disobedience to the Lord. Instead of heeding the instructions to not do something, he went ahead and did it. The consequences still live on for all of mankind.
With over 45 years of work “under my belt”, I can say there were times when work was a joy. You can be fulfilled in setting a goal, working hard at completing it, and then receiving the rewards that accompany it. But more often than not, if I am sharing honestly, work was difficult, at times boring, and often not what my heart dreamed of doing. Indeed, the “sweat of your forehead” didn’t seem to bring the life many spoke of in the Sunday morning messages. The Monday through Friday job was a necessary, not the choice many of us would have made if given the opportunity.
We seek the Lord to understand the meaning of the job we daily have to put our hands to. We often think of what is the eternal meaning of doing the same tasks that in the long run we wonder why it is done at all. What purpose is accomplished for civilization if what we do today is gone tomorrow? It is a question faced by many as they go about their work.
Solomon felt the frustration, as he wrote this, now recorded in Scripture for all time. “So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:17, NASU) Something was missing in his life. Futility and strife was all he could see as the result.
For most of us, 50-60 years of work is enough. If that what we have done has brought some good for those around us, we can find fulfillment in what has been accomplished. Trusting in the Lord during that time can be a main hope that His will and purpose for us did occur, and that our reward awaits us in heaven. For those who have not this hope, then what they have done will be gone when they are gone. Burned up forever at that point to come.
I am grateful for the job that I have been given as my trade, and the resulting provision given for this life. But I look forward to that day when all labor has been completed, and the eternal reward awaits.
Understanding the whys and why nots may only be known when we have reached the other side. In the meantime, keeping our eyes on the Lord must be our daily task, while doing our daily tasks.
May it be said of us also, as Jesus prayed, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4-5, NASU)
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 07.09.16 - #261 –“Work Is Work” – Saturday at 9:15 am
All previous editions of Now Think On This can be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks! Steve
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