Monday, April 2, 2018

Joyful work ............. Parables 723

July 10, 2001

“Soldiering” is a term to describe the art of looking busy at work while not actually doing anything. Apparently, there are rules to this game, including how to take twice as long to get up from your desk yet still look as if you are not procrastinating. While work can be boring and some jobs are tedious, most who ‘soldier’ simply don’t feel like working. Some might describe these folks as simply lazy.

My Dad used to say lazy people had “an aversion to work.” He did not speak kindly of them, partly because he never avoided the tough jobs himself. His attitude shaped our lives. Our family tends to add extras to our to-do lists and we rarely complain that we dislike our work.

Children are easily influenced to think about work in terms of ‘the pleasure of a job well done’ or something to be avoided at all costs. Without positive reinforcement, they soon grumble about homework, housework and later, the prospect of working for a living. However, God did not intend that we hate our jobs. He planned that work would be enjoyable, even the more difficult tasks. He also wants us to be fulfilled and rewarded for what we do.

The first man had an easy job. He took care of and guarded the garden where he lived with his wife. Before they fell into sin, there were no weeds and pesky bugs in Eden. After these two disobeyed the one law God gave them, humanity was plunged into sin and life changed. Toil became “painful” because the earth produced “thorns and thistles.” God told the man, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground.”

While this curse has plagued us ever since, God’s people are taught that work is not all bad. Solomon said those who honor God with their wealth would experience overflowing barns and wine vats. In other words, work would have visible results.

He also said, “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 his life God has given him . . . God gives 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.” (Ecclesiastes 5)

Solomon adds that he has seen people who have wealth, possessions and honor yet they are unfulfilled. The reason? God “does not enable them to enjoy” what they have. No one wants to spend their entire life doing something they hate, but the Bible says even a change of employment will not help unless God gives us joy in our labor.

Sometimes my work list is too long, or too difficult, or too boring. On those days I know I need God’s help, but I also realize that even the pleasant aspects of my work could be drudgery unless He enables me to enjoy what I do.

Part of the enjoyment is remembering His promise: one day my labor here will cease. I know eternity will not be spent twiddling my thumbs, but whatever I do when I am there will be made richer because of the rewards He gives for the work we do here.

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