Praise be to You, My Precious Lord, for You have instructed me that in whatever I do, I should do it enthusiastically as something done for You and not for men. Help me in my work habits to do first things first and not put off important things until the last minute. Responding to a need promptly will help me do it with enthusiasm and will determine how much fun I will have doing it. Your Word tells me that hard work is valuable and You even go so far as to say that if anyone does not work, neither should they eat. You also say that the one who is slack in his labors is one who destroys. In Your words I understand that in whatever I do I have the choice to build up or tear down. You created a world in which diligence is a good thing to be rewarded while laziness is not. Your expectation is that whatever I do I should do it with commitment, excitement and vigor. I know You will give me many opportunities to accomplish good things for You … but I should expect to have to work for them and they will likely not be accomplished easily.
I know that in whatever I do … whether for You or others … I must give my all in accomplishing it. When I accept what You call me to do … caring for my family … helping in the church … or reaching out to others, I know that You will prosper me and my life will be easier to manage. I should never labor so that others will see it and praise me. Like with my tithing, I must do my work with a good attitude and out of the limelight. When I possess a willingness to work, You will help me do it well and will reward me for the sacrifices I make to accomplish it. I should never pass up a chance to help others because I may never get an opportunity to do it again and thereby miss my chance to reap a blessing.
I must understand that when people are depending on me I should respond to their need. I am thankful that when I get up in the morning, I have something that must be done … whether I like it or not. Work develops virtues in me that idleness cannot. Nothing fires me up more than my dedication to You and advancing Your Kingdom. Many do not consider work a blessing … therefore, they flee from it and hate it … but, as I contemplate Your call on my life, I rejoice and can’t wait to get started. When I commit myself to You, words like mediocre and run-of-the-mill are not words I want to be associated with my efforts on Your behalf. I’ve come to understand that freedom is not the absence of responsibility, rather a reward I receive when I have performed my job well. Therefore, in whatever You call me to do, I will always give it my best. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Nehemiah 4:6 The people had a mind to work.