Work as God’s Gift to Humanity

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (ESV)

¹⁸ Behold, what I have seen to be good, and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. ¹⁹ Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. ²⁰ For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Devotion:

            Most of us think that work is an unavoidable evil. Working all day every day of the week for a paycheck can be a drag. Indeed, in the author of Ecclesiastes in verses 8-17 of this same chapter describes work as toiling without gain. So, what is the reason that the author here praises the benefits of work? It is all in one’s attitude toward work. Realizing that work is a gift from God changes everything. Those who work purely to increase their wealth will have trouble in this life. Those who receive their work as a gift from God will have joy as a result.

            Therefore, a Christian is to have a positive attitude toward work. Realizing that having work is a positive good in one’s life can give great meaning to life. All work regardless of what it is can be done as an offering to God. It is simply good to have work to do. Lack of work leads to all kinds of ill feelings. As does work that is done purely for the sake of making lots of money. In the end all you will have if you are strictly working for a paycheck is a paycheck and it can never satisfy your longing for meaning. So, do your work remembering that it is a gift from God,

            Christians ought to be the best workers anywhere. We should receive work as pure grace and in response give whatever work we do our full attention and effort. A person who does his labor in this manner will not only please his or her supervisor but will enjoy their work and it will be a blessing both to them and to others.

            I can personally testify to the benefits of giving your work as an offering to God versus doing your work only for monetary gain. I was working at a large bank and having all kinds of stress related health problems. Once I started doing that same work as a gift of God my whole outlook changed and I became much less stressed and healthier. God wants to bless you on the job. You just must examine what you are doing and why you are doing it. Giving it over to God can change your work from boring drudgery to fulfilling activity.

Prayer:

            Thank you, Lord, for the gift of work. Let us do our work as a gift of unexpected grace from God. We should always praise God including while we are working. Let all the people see that we are set to work joyfully and wonder what our secret is. Glory be to God that we can give our all to our work while we still have work to do. Keep us rejoicing in our work until you call us home. Amen.