Friday, October 31, 2008

working hard

Yesterday at work I had a job that kept me active doing much the same things, but not coming from a machine. So it was up to me as to how much I would get done. Actually I enjoyed it for the most part, except for the hand taper and the big roll which kept giving me fits. But it was fun, time went fast, and I tried to do so as one in the yoke with Jesus while also doing it with all my heart.

Work is a blessing from God, we were created to work, and sin and the curse it did bring only resulted adding difficulty to our work, maybe like my hand taper and big roll yesterday. We were created to work, and in the new creation we will continue to work, a reality in Jesus that begins now.

Work is to be an expression of love to God and to our neighbor. And so we're to do it with all our hearts, souls, strength and mind. Of course I'm glad for some jobs in which I can meditate on Scripture, and even sing a song, like this one I was singing some yesterday.

You get home, and you're tired. I had a pleasant visit with Deb, another wonderful meal from her, then I pretty much went "out" until I awakened later. But rest and sleep is a gift as well as our work.

Does our work glorify God? Are we busy, doing our Father's business? Are we doing the works of God who calls us into his work with him- amazingly, while it is still called "Day", since when "Night" comes, no one can do this kind of work, anymore?

What thoughts might you like to add to this?

6 comments:

Randall said...

on the song side I say " rejoice in the Lord, always! And again I say rejoice."

No matter the task we are given, we are sowing seeds, the question is what types of seeds? In this case you have sown goods seeds, in my opinion. You took a mundane task and used it as an oportunity to praise God and rejoice in having been created.

In all we do we should give thanks, the hard part is giving thanks for the mundane, the harder part is giving thanks for the trials and challenges, but even these come of God, and therefore are worthy of praise and thanksgiving.

Thank you for your witness
Peace

Anonymous said...

"an expression of love to God and to our neighbor"

that is good work alright!

yp said...

To work hard with all your heart, soul and mind isn't easy.

Especially when you don't have to, or want to..

Especially when you can't see any immediately tangible benefit..

But it's the flipside that is scary. It is so easy for our work to become ungodliness (and a poor witness)

Ted M. Gossard said...

Randall,
Thanks so much for your good and encouraging words here. Great to "meet" you in this setting.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Amen, Nancy, amen. I need to keep working at that, and growing in it. And by grace, in Jesus I think I am.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Yipeng,
Yes. We have to keep working at it with all our heart. And trust that as we do, God in Jesus will be present to strengthen and help us and give us his joy.

Good point, and thanks.