Blessings of work
Blessings of work
Work is a blessing! I never thought I would say this but I have come to that point in my life where I have realized that the ability to work is a blessing. I have especially realized this blessing this spring while in the process of planting vegetable gardens, flower gardens, and just the regular and necessary yard work that is to be done around the house. I have discovered more than ever that the work is hard, yet joyful and even more than that it is scriptural. In fact I would say that the work is necessary.
The work is hard
This is the second year my wife and I have had the opportunity to have a garden. Last year we discovered that we love gardening and we enjoy reaping the harvest. This year our gardening adventure was a little different however. Last year we had a nice big roto-tiller to till the ground; this year we did not. We decided to forgo borrowing the big tiller we had last year and we decided that we did not want to spend the couple hundred dollars to by a mini gas-powered cultivator. So, we bought a hand cultivator. Needless to say we will be buying that mini gas-powered cultivator for the next gardening season.
As I was using my hand tiller, breaking up the ground, working up a massive sweat, and using muscles I didn’t know existed (the few that I have), I couldn’t help but think of Genesis 3. And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten the tree of which I commanded you ‘You shall not eat of It,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:17-19).
The passage stands true. The work is hard. We get calluses on our hands, we get sore, we get cuts and scrapes, we might even break something every once in a while. The ground is hard and there always seems to be a weed to pull. Yet through all of this, the work is good and it is a must.
The work is a must
Men have to work. It is biblical. It is wise for us to note as men that Adam had a job before he had a wife. There was work to be done and he did it. It is dangerous for us men to be idle for when we are idle we sin. When Adam sinned he was standing idle with his wife, doing nothing.
We of course have to be careful and we must also rest. All too many men just work all the time. They neglect there wife and children all in the name of making an extra buck. I would say that God rested and that is the example we are to take as well. He gave us a day to rest. That day is a blessing. We have the opportunity to rest from our work, meditate on the blessings that God has given to us and behold all of His splendor, and we get to be with our families. Men, we must learn to work hard but not neglect the family God has blessed us with.
The work is a blessing
The last thing I want to point out about the work we have been given is that it’s a blessing. The harvest is plentiful. Every day we walk out to our garden and we pluck some lettuce and spinach for a salad. We pull strawberries for a delicious dessert. Our tomatoes and cucumbers will be blooming in no time. The lawn is green and all the flowers are in full color. My wife greatly enjoys the beauty of our yard and this brings me great joy. The work has been hard but a great joy and blessing and all praise goes to God for the ability He has given us to work.
Are you thankful for your work? Are you simply thankful to God for the blessing he has given to you to work a job, plant a garden, mow a lawn, and provide for your family? I think it would be wise for all of us to stop and reconsider our grumbling ways about our jobs. God has given them to us and he can assuredly take them away.
May you be blessed in all or your work!