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Jenny's Pennies: September - Labor
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Here’s my 2 cents whether you want it or not!
September: Labor Day
9 to 5 for Jesus 24-7
Philippians 2:16 as you hold on to the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
I used to work at a department store and I would often hear the older sales clerks saying,”These young kids don’t do any work…they don’t care about anything.” I had mixed feelings about these statements. On one hand I would take offense because I myself, while young, was a very hard worker and on the other hand I completely agreed with them. The majority of the younger workers showed very little initiative. While there are sub-par workers of all ages and generations…the majority of todays teenagers are showing a lack of pride in discipline and hard work. Perhaps you are reading this and taking offense the same way that I did when I heard the older sales clerks talking. Rest assured that I do recognize that there are many young people that take pride in what they do and I hope that others will soon join you.
“What are you talking about? I don’t even have a job?” Hard work can apply to many aspects of life outside of your “job”. This discipline and initiative can be displayed in your schoolwork, extra curricular activities, sports, and even in your attitude. It is important to form these good habits now so that they will carry into the work force later in life. When you finally venture out into the “real world” you will find that it takes teamwork, commitment, self-discipline, initiative, responsibility, maturity, punctuality, organization, obedience and the ability to take instruction, and the ability to accept and improve from constructive criticism. Now stop and think about the different clubs, activities, or organizations that you are involved in at school or in your community that are trying to teach you these skills. The opportunity to learn and improve these skills is available to you right now…the question is will you take advantage of it?
God has given each and every one of us special gifts and abilities. We should not waste these wonderful and very personal gifts that our heavenly Father has so graciously given us. God does not leave us without instruction. He has written for us a manual…a step-by-step “how to” guide for every day life. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about laziness, work, and discipline:
1. Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth
(Proverbs 10:4)
*If you don’t do anything you won’t get anything. It is the “diligent” that are wealthy in many aspects of life.
2. If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.
(Ecclesiastes 10:18)
**If you are lazy then things around you can begin to fall apart literally and figuratively. It is best to keep busy and maintain control of your environment.
3. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
(Proverbs 12:1)
**Here the Bible says that we are smart and wise to be self-disciplined but those who cannot take constructive criticism are “stupid”. Listen to those “above you”; they are in charge for a reason. You can learn from their experience. Do not get upset or frustrated…always be eager to learn something new and to improve upon what you already know.
4. From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
(Proverbs 12:14)
**You are rewarded by the good things that you say and do. Putting forth a good effort and hard work will always be rewarded and God will recognize and appreciate a job well done.
5. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 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)
**God is telling us that no matter what you do you should always do it to the very best of your ability. This applies to work, schoolwork, activities, and talents. You should always try your hardest. You do not have to be the best as long as you do your best! You are to do everything as if you were working for the Lord and not man. So whether you are cleaning your room, flipping burgers, taking a test, or playing an instrument…you should put forth 100% effort. Remember…you are working for God…not for your parents, bosses, teachers, or coaches…so do a good job and show respect!
6. Each one of us should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.
(1 Peter 4:10, 11)
**Here we are told to use the gifts that God has given us to serve others while displaying God’s grace. When speaking we are to speak “as one speaking the very words of God” and while serving or working we should “do it with the strength God provides”. If someone gave you a big beautiful diamond you wouldn’t use it to scrape the dirt out of the cracks in the floor would you? God has given us many gifts and abilities and they should be used properly and to the very best of our ability.
7. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31)
**No matter what we do the purpose is always to glorify and praise God. That is why it is so important to always set a good Christian example at work, at school, and all through our daily lives. If your actions or attitudes (including slacking off) do not glorify God…then you need to do some adjusting.
8. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
(Hebrews 12:11, 12)
**This really says it all. No one likes discipline or rules. We would all like to do whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want. There is a reason why God has created rules, laws, and people to enforce them. Without rules, discipline, and structure, the world would be chaotic. The same applies in our home, school, or workplace. In the long run discipline always pays off and “produces a harvest of righteousness and peace”…that sounds pretty good to me. “Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees” and roll up your sleeves for some hard work.
9. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependant on anybody.
(1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12)
**First it is important to “lead a quiet life” and “mind your own business”. There will always be people around you that are not working as hard as they should. Unless you are the person that was placed in authority over them then it is not your place to correct them. Do your own job to the best of your ability and leave it to the supervisors/ parents/ teachers/ coaches/ bosses to get everyone working as a team. Second you want “your daily life” to “win the respect of outsiders”. When you are constantly nagging others that they are doing something wrong or that they are not doing it as good as you do…they will not listen. You will appear self-righteous to them. Instead, set an example for others by doing your job properly so that they can model what you do.
10. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
(John 3:37, 38)
**You should work hard to see and enjoy the benefits of your own work instead of letting everyone else do the work. Part of teamwork is that everyone works together and then everyone benefits from the hard work.
The Proverbs Woman: Proverbs 31:10-31
Take some time to read about the “Proverbs Woman”. This woman is the perfect example of a diligent and disciplined worker. Here is just a sample of the many things that this ambitious woman accomplishes: She selects wool and flax, works with eager hands, brings food from afar, gets up while it’s still dark, provides food for her family and servants, considers and buys a field, plants a vineyard, works vigorously, works the spindle, opens her arms to the poor and needy, makes coverings for her bed, makes and sells linen garments, supplies merchants with sashes, speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction, watches over her household, and is not idle. The Bible says that “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.” (Proverbs 31:17). She is always looking for something to do, when she finds it she works “vigorously”. We should all strive to be as ambitious as the “Proverbs Woman”. People recognize and appreciate her efforts: Proverbs 31:28-31 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. She is called “blessed”, she is “praised”, and she is given “the reward she has earned”. More specifically it says “…a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” bringing out the point that all of the work that she is doing is God’s work and not for man. The way that she conducts herself is the way that God wants all of us to perform at home, work, school, or in the community. Because she “fears” or respects the Lord and brings glory and honor to Him through her work, she is worthy of praise. Let us all, women and men, young and old, learn from and follow the example of the “Proverbs Woman”.
I’m Busy Building for God: Nehemiah 6:1-14
Read Nehemiah 6:1-14. Nehemiah’s enemies kept trying to get him to come down off of the wall he was building so they could stop the work of God. They used all kinds of sneaky tricks. Nehemiah said to them, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down”. Four times they came to him, and four times he answered them in the same way. Basically, Nehemiah told them that he was not coming down from doing God’s work in order to be trapped by them in arguments. Nehemiah used wisdom in dealing with his enemies. When the people of God are moving forward, Satan tries to involve them in all kinds of arguments, strife, and problems as a way to shift their attention, then he can keep them from finishing what God has called them to do.
We must learn to stay focused on our task and not to be distracted or negatively influenced by others around us. Remember that all work that you do is for God and not man, which means it doesn’t apply to only ministry work…but all work. Set an example and ignore those that are trying to get you to “come down off of the wall”. Proverbs 10:17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Self-discipline is all about staying on task and standing up to peer pressure when others around you have given in. Take pride in your work and the things that you accomplish.
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). You will never find a better boss than God. If you stay focused on Him and do everything for Him than you will reap the rewards so that you have not “labored in vain”. So this Labor Day take pride in your work and above all give glory to God for the abilities that He has given you. It’s time to start working 9 to 5 for Jesus 24-7!
Jenn Bathgate
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