Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go… Remember the seven dwarfs singing as they headed off to work? Does that describe your Monday mornings?
Unfortunately, many of us view work as a necessary evil. Though the curse certainly added sweat and thorns to our labor, work is not part of the curse.
Working and Resting with God
Do you have lots of tasks to juggle? The first couple managed a zoo, aquarium, farm, and botanical garden. They were also charged to rear a family.
Yet they were not overwhelmed.
Adam and Eve knew who owned the enterprise. They also knew their Creator was their Provider. He supplied everything they needed to prosper, including wisdom, strength, and sunshine. He prepared every detail for their prosperity. In fact, rest was part of His formula for success.
In their initial two days of life, God showed the first couple how to work and rest with Him. He created Adam on the sixth day and introduced him to his vocation. Together, they went to work. Imagine the fun they shared as Adam dreamed up names for every type of animal and bird God brought him. “I’ll call the striped one zebra and that fellow with the funny nose a rhinoceros.”
On Adam and Eve’s second day, God rested with them. Sadly, humankind’s fall into sin marred this relationship and brought a curse on the earth. Pain accompanied the blessing of bearing children. Obstacles fretted away the delight of productive labor. Sin created power struggles within families.
Christ came to restore our relationship with God and each other. One day, He’ll remove the curse from the earth (Romans 8:21). But even now, because of Christ, we can work and rest with God again.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephes. 2:10 NLT).
The Sacredness of Work
I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is try to please everybody. ~ Herbert Bayard Swope
Sin brought a curse on the world. Adam could no longer freely enjoy the delicious fruit of the garden. Thick ropes of poisonous vines, weeds, and briars now choked the fruit Adam once took for granted.
Sin infects every aspect of our lives. We, like Adam and Eve, feel our nakedness—exposure—in a dangerous and unpredictable world. To shield ourselves, we hide behind the fig leaves of busyness, accolades, and material possessions. Feeling vulnerable is one of the thorns of living in a fallen world.
The awareness of risk can cause us to look at work in an unhealthy manner. When work becomes a harsh taskmaster or usurps God’s rightful place as Lord and provider, it’s time to refocus. Are we expecting our jobs to supply what only God can give?
When #work becomes a harsh taskmaster or usurps God’s rightful place as Lord and provider, it’s time to refocus. Are we expecting our jobs to supply what only God can give? #trust Click To TweetWhat difference would it make if you viewed Jesus as your provider and your work as a way to serve Him? Would it help if the one who ruled your work understood the pressures in your home? How would working for Jesus affect your attitude, energy, and motivation?
Sometimes a simple switch in focus is all we need to restore our joy.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV).
Try working to please only Jesus this week. Let me know if you find yourself whistling.
Adapted from Give Yourself a Break
Blessings,
Fall Bible Study for Women
Little Women, Big God: The women in Jesus’ genealogy faced big problems with little power, but they discovered a bigger God.
This fall, I’ll be leading an eleven-week online study for women on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST on Little Women, Big God.
We’ll introduce the study on September 13. Contact me to sign up or learn more. You can order a book here: Little Women, Big God.Let’s focus on our Big God together!
Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash
Sometimes I link with these great sites:
#InspireMeMonday, #InstaEncouraements, #TellHisStory and here , #Let’sHaveCoffee, #Recharge Wednesday, #Grace&Truth,
I feel as if this post has landed at the perfect time as I readjust to the fall rush and mourn the end of summer.
I’m doing some readjusting myself, Michele!
Your title got my attention. My husband, not always to my liking, whistles a lot. One of the churches he served as a pastor had a lot of issues and sadly resulted in us leaving, but one day he looked at me and said they took away my whistle. He had not realized how stressful the situation had become till he realized he no longer whistled. He is no longer in full time ministry but joyfully serves the Lord in a new role. He feels he is more productive for the kingdom outside of full time ministry. His eagerness to serve no matter where he is has been such an example to me to do it all with joy.
Jennifer, thank you for sharing that experience. I’m so glad your husband got his whistle back and is building the kingdom in a new way and satisfying way!
Debbie, thank you for reminding me that serving God makes all work worthwhile and puts the whistle back in our work. The quote by Herbert Swope you included is a wise and true reminder.
That quote resonated with me, Jeannie. An easy trap to fall into.
So much depends on what, and whose, work we’re doing doesn’t it Ms. Debbie. If we know what and Who we’re working for will pay heavenly dividends, then God joins in and makes are work lighter (take my yoke). If we’re working for an idol such as money, title, fame, etc., then the labor is hard. Great thoughts this morning ma’am. I appreciate the reminder that I need to whistle more. 🙂
I think our whistle pleases our Lord. Thanks, J.D.
Debbie, great post! The wrong view of work and that tendency to want to please people are a deadly combination, aren’t they! I loved this statement, “What difference would it make if you viewed Jesus as your provider and your work as a way to serve Him? ” Blessings!
Yes they are! Thanks, Donna.
This is such a good and timely reminder as we step into fall and a slightly different schedule. This weekend we babysit my 2 year old grandson and their dog for 2 days and nights and I am determined to do all to the glory of God and trust Him for the energy and patience!!
I’m smiling because I hear you! Thanks, Ann.
Such well made points. Thank you.
Thanks for reading, Jane.
I loved this and need to chew on it. “What difference would it make if you viewed Jesus as your provider and your work as a way to serve Him?”
Thanks Debbie. Great thoughts.
Those thoughts anchor me when I start to drift. Thanks, Sylvia.
I find it amazing how God speaks through each of us for the same subjects. My post this week was also about work and last week about rest. I love your insights here on the balance of work and rest. We can restore the whistle to our work when we work for Jesus.
Barbara, I look forward to reading your thoughts!
My own expectations from others dry up my whistle (figuratively, since I can’t actually whistle). Thank you for this reminder, Debbie.
I get it! 🙂 Thanks, Annie.
I got my whistle back when I retired, lol. We need to find the balance daily between work and rest as God showed Adam and Eve in the beginning. Thanks Debbie.
Love that, Yvonne! We have different seasons in life.
My husband often whistles as he works and it makes me smile. 🙂 Thanks for linking up at Grace & Truth!
Love that, Lisa! Thanks for hosting.