“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." - 2 Thessalonians 3:10
The idea of work has changed very much these days, far from the way it used to be from the days when a majority of people eked their living from farmland. Whereas a majority of people in the world still fetch their living from cultivating the ground, a lot more have since shifted to factories to produce goods and offices to supply services. More recently, as a result of the pandemic, there is a new move of workers from offices to homes.
Throughout all these avenues of work, whatever the means, God has provided that it is through hard work, where one can know of prosperity. The richest nations of the world also post some of the longest working hours. There are indeed industrialized nations, where work has become a sort of worship, such as in South Korea. There it has even become important to pass legislation for people to take rest. Nonetheless, South Korea, once dirt poor, is one of the mosf prosperous nations in the world.
The story of ants does reveal the value of work. These tiny creatures wherever they are dominate landscapes with mighty anthills. The interesting thing is, as the writer of Proverbs observed, they have “no commander, no overseer or ruler” (Proverbs 6:7). Ants are self-motivated. They rise on their own. Their work patterns involve plodding on in simple routine rather boring tasks but from which they raise castles. If a price could be put on all those anthills they raise, ants would certainly score one of the highest GDPs of all creatures in the world.
The scriptures remind us that if we do not value work like ants, but rather, engage in “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man” (Proverbs 6: 10- 11). If we desire to prosper, and hate poverty, let us so cherish work!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, creator of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the gift of work, which you have given me, that through work I may prosper.
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08/05/2024 - 09/05/2024 All day“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)
The culture of sharing gifts runs through scriptures and is at the heart of the Gospel. Upon realizing that Jesus Christ had been born the three wise main did not just go empty handed. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mathew 2:11).
When Jacob decided to return to his country, he went with gifts to soften the heart of his twin brother Esau, whom he had left maddened at him for various wrongs. “Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys” ( Genesis 32: 13-15). The reason was, Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp” (vv 2—21).
Esau was already a wealthy man and had no need of the gifts presented. But Jacob pleaded with him. “Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift” (Genesis 33: 11). This symbol of good touched Esau, brightened his heart, burying the old acrimonious relation.
Taking after these two instances believers should be in the habit of sharing gifts. We should visit each other not empty handed but like the wise men with gifts, not so much that those we are gifting are lacking, but as a way of blessing them. Proverbs 11:25-26, says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.”
Most importantly we bless each other with gifts because we have received the most important gift there is in life, the gift of salvation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the most precious gift of all that you gave me of eternal life through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and so I pray that I may not hesitate to share this gift and bless those with as much whom you enable me to meet, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
