We Were Designed to Work and Rest
Today as we enjoy another Labor Day, may we reflect upon what God says about work and rest. If we look at the very beginning of time, we will see that both working and resting were important. God, Himself, labored for six days creating our world but on the seventh day He rested. Even the first man, Adam and his helpmate, Eve worked in the garden taking care of it and found time to rest. While working is one of the very first foundations of mankind, it is today found to be one of the hardest things in life, but, before the fall of man, work was a pleasant task.
When sin entered our world, God cursed the ground and declared that work would now become hard and burdensome. Man would eat by the sweat of his brow. And we have been working hard ever since. But with the curse of hard labor also came something else; selfish ambition. After the fall of man, men started to work for their own glory. We can see this as early as Cain, who built a city and named it after his son (Genesis 4:17). Instead of putting God first, man puts his own needs and desires first.
We see this still going on today, a good portion of the working class today look at their vocations as a means to an end; a way to get money, power and possessions. While it is important for God’s people to work hard, be diligent and faithful; it is just as important to find God at your place of employment. Yes, we all need money to buy food and pay rent, but more than that, we need to know that we are the hands and feet of God everywhere we go, including work.
I heard a Sunday School teacher this past week say instead of talking about sports, the weather or how mean our boss is; perhaps more talk about spiritual things should be taking place in our break rooms. What a difference we could make if we were as passionate about lost souls as we are about our pension plans.
Every year we get a day off for Labor Day, it is a day intended for rest. Just as working hard is important, so is resting. When we don’t rest, it is easy to tire of doing what is right and good (and Godly). Enjoy your rest today but tomorrow get ready to labor for the Lord at your workplace (and beyond).
BLESSINGS, Laurie
@copyright2019 laurieadams
**for more of my devotions, follow my devotion page on Facebook: womentakingastand
Great reminder that we ought to be His hands and feet in our workplaces. I do my best to be more positive and encouraging to others.