Work

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Moreover, when God gives man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work – this is a gift of God.

Matthew 6:27

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you .  On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

Today I finally finished something that I have dreaded.  I finished packing up Rick’s office at church.  I spent a good deal of the time in tears, which made it harder to see what I was doing…but I finally placed the last of his precious things in boxes.

Rick’s office was a very special place.  It was his sanctuary, library, a room for counseling, prayer, study, laughter, party’s, devotions and his sometimes terrible jokes.  He loved his work so very much.  It was his joy to get up each morning knowing he had a purpose and something important to accomplish that day.  Some days it would be devotions at the Board of Education, or devotions at one of the Christian Schools in the area…maybe a counseling session or meeting with someone who wanted to make Jesus their Lord and Savior.  Or it could have been a staff meeting with George and Ben or simply a day of study for his sermon that week.  Whatever it was for that day, he was content in doing it and I can say that he looked forward to his “work”.

As I went through his office today…reading through some of his notes and studies that he had been actively working on, it was very difficult.  So many things that he wanted to do.  He had his sermon series planned out through April 2010…always the planner and visionary, he knew where he was going and what he wanted to say.  Even though it was incredibly hard today it was also good.  There were so many things in his office that I had no idea he had…many things I didn’t know he had worked on…books that I didn’t know he had read and notes from people that I had no idea he had helped.  It helped me realize that our “work” is not just a job.  It is so much more than that.  God saw everyday what went on in Rick’s life and his office.  Nothing in his office or his life’s work escaped God.  He gave Rick work…preaching his word and pastoring his flock…and God saw everything little detail of his work…not missing even the smallest of things.

When I reflect on Rick’s life it causes me to take a deeper look at my own.  I never suspected that his life would end in just 53 years and I don’t think he thought it would either.  God’s ways are not our ways…how I am learning that first hand now.  But, no matter the time…the work He has given us is so very important.  What I do each day matters so much…I cannot even begin to know just how much it does matter this side of eternity.  Every day of Rick’s life…every single day of his 53 years…had an impact on eternity.  Every choice he made, every person he helped, every sermon he preached, every smile he gave, every stranger he approached and every need he met was his work for that day.  The same is true for me and for you.  We cannot add to or take away from the work that God gives to each of us.  What we may think matters little may be the biggest thing we do that day…in God’s eyes.

What is my work for today?  What is your work?  Jesus says that our main work is to work for food that endures to eternal life.  That means that in everything we do our main focus should be eternity.  We do what we do for Him…with Jesus in our mind and heart.  He is the driving force behind our work.  He is the reason we help others…love the unlovely…hold our tongues at work…forgive…think of others before ourselves…believe the best of others…speak up for Him when we would rather let someone else do it…and a thousand other things that He asks us to do.

What we do with the work He places before us each day…at the end of our lives…tells our story.  If we could only see through His eyes just how important our “work” is…no matter how big or small…maybe we would enjoy all those jobs just a little more…

Sending much love,

Debbie

This entry was written on March 6, 2010 at 11:56 pm