"The Blessing of Working"

The Blessing of Working

“Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.”

Proverbs 12:14 (NLT)

This is a little late for Labor Day, but it holds true year around.  There is a time to work and a time to rest and many do not care to work; they only want to rest.  Those who continue working reap their rewards and benefits like the above scripture.

Growing up I was taught good work ethics; ‘Give your all to the task at hand’, ‘If you work for someone else, work as though you owned the business’, and ‘Be consistent in doing your very best’.  There is a verse in Proverbs 13:4 that describes a truth that can’t be disputed, “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” [NLT] 

Of course there are people who for various reasons are unable to work and need help to just get along.  But there are those who draw money from the government because they say they can’t work, yet they do everything else they want to do.  I’m sure we all know people like this.  The consequences of these people are that they will always live below the average living standard.  More than likely they will never own a decent home, drive a reliable vehicle, or have enough money to last from month to month.

Bible times held the same concerns as today.  2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 [NLT] explains what Jesus would want you to do.  “Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.”  God wants to bless you and that’s why his Word tells you how to receive those blessings.  The same is true with tithing; if you tithe, God will bless you.  As it says in the book of Malachi 3:10, that God will pour out such a blessing on you that you can’t even contain it.

Here is what God the Father desires for each of us, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”  [3 John 1:2 (NKJV)] We just need to be obedient to God and it all happens just like his Word says.

Our spiritual life also includes working for the Lord and we will be rewarded.  As a youth one of my favorite hymns was “Give of Your Best to the Master”.  The second verse says it so well.  “Give of the best to the Master, Give Him first place in your heart; Give Him first place in your service, Consecrate every part.  Give and to you shall be given; God His beloved Son gave; Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.”  This is what God wants from us – His best.

Let me give you a good example of working for the Lord.  My pastor works above and beyond what he is called to do.  Of course a pastor’s calling is to share the Gospel; to study the Word and to pray.  However, my pastor goes beyond that.  Not only does he visit the sick, but he prays for everyone around them.  He will go anywhere for those of the congregation that need him.  He has compassion on the downtrodden and the lost.

Not only does he spiritually care for his sheep, but physically stretches himself for the church.  How many pastors do you know who snowplows the church parking lot in the winter, or goes out and cuts wood for our wood burning furnace, gets up on the roof to help fix a leak?  I have known him to make a trip to another state to be with a person from the church who had a family member pass away.  How about driving a round trip 300 miles for someone who needed prayer?  He is not perfect, but he loves his people and they know it. 

Our pastor “Gives of His Best to the Master” and that’s what each of should be doing.  God wants ‘first place’ in our lives; not what’s left over after the day is done. It’s not just your money he wants; he wants your time; your worship and for you to care for others. We need to be spreading the Word and drawing others to Jesus.  This is our spiritual ‘work’ and there are rewards for that as well as there is for physical work.

There comes to each of us a time to physically retire and reap the benefits we have earned, but spiritually, there is no retirement.  No matter how old we are we can keep sharing the message of Salvation as long as we have breath.  There is a promise given to those who do that.  “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)  Salvation is a free gift of God, but the blessings come when we are obedient to him.

May God bless you greatly as you go about your daily work, making God first place in your heart and life.  Working together doubles the rewards!