Back to: The Banquet (Wisdom Devotional)
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The Realities of Work
- For most adults and some young people, work is a big part of our day.
- We either spent time thinking about it, preparing for it, going to it working at it, looking for a new one or resting from it. ( Which is most of our waking hours).
- On average we spend about 45 hrs. a week, 900 hrs. a month and 10 800 hrs. a year at work.
- From 22 – 65 ( Retirement) So it occupies a big chunk of our life.
- If you have a bad day at work, it will affect all areas of your life.
- A Successful person must be successful at work to be effective everywhere else.
- Lets see what the wisdom writers have to say about how we can be more successful in our work and careers.
Developing The Right Attitude
- Work existed before the first couple disobeyed God and fell into sin.
- God put Adam and Eve there to cultivate ( The first thing Adam was told to do was work before he even had a wife- name the animals.
- Work became more difficult after sin came into the world, but it was not always meant to be that way. (Genesis 2: 15)
- The word cultivate means ‘work’.
- We know that God created everything, and it was good- so was work.
- Work is seen as a service to God- its one way we can serve God. ( Why is it important to serve God? ) Colossians 3:23
- Because of Men’s disobedience, God cursed the ground so that it would produce its fruit only through much effort.
Recognizing The Right Priorities
- Proverbs 10:5 ‘ He who gathers in the summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully’
- Some animals, insects etc. work hard during summer to store their food, so that they have enough for winter (Hibernation)
- This is not to suggest that we must be workaholics because that too is an imbalance – we need to balance work with rest. Even God rested on the Sabbath.
- ‘Hard work pays off’ Hard work is even more fulfilling and enjoyed when you are resting or on holiday, knowing you completed the tasks required.
- If you find it difficult to be motivated, be work ( house chores or office work etc.) create an incentive for yourself, that will help remain disciplined and consistent in work ethic. ( Write positive affirmations )
The Parable Of The Talents
The parable begins with a master entrusting ‘talents’ to his servants before setting out on a long journey. One servant receives five talents, another receives three, and the final is granted just one talent. Upon returning home, the master learns that the first and second servants used their talents to significantly increase the value of the property they were granted. They are rewarded accordingly. The third servant, however, buried his talent and did not enjoy the gains of his predecessor. When called on to account for his behavior, he claims that fear prevented him from embracing his talent. The master reprimands the third servant for being lazy, and casts him out.
What does this parable teach us?
- This parable explains the role of opportunity, hard work, and accountability in our everyday life.
- Teaches us that we are put on Earth to work.
- God rewards those who put considerable effort into bettering their lives and the lives of those in their community.
- He does not command us to bury our talents and sit back, awaiting hand outs. Rather, we are commanded to use what we have to make the world a better place.
