Work / Rest
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Living in the Promised Land in work means we KNOW that God IS the source of our provision and that our work is an act of worship to Him.
“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for He grants sleep to those He loves.” – Psalm 127:2
God is not against human effort. Hard work honors God. But working to the exclusion of rest or to the neglect of family may be a cover-up for an inability to TRUST God to provide for our needs.
We all need adequate rest and times of spiritual refreshment. On the other hand, this verse is not an excuse to be lazy.
Be careful to maintain a balance: work while trusting God, and also rest while trusting him.
1 Corinthians 10: 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
There is no lack in Him, no matter how much money there is in my bank account, there is no loneliness in Him no matter if there is no one around. He is all in all. To see this is to have ones mind renewed. To see this Is to be FREE.
Coming into the Promised Land in business will change the way you and I view our work.
No longer will we see getting up early and staying up late as God’s way.
Living in the Promised Land in work means we KNOW that God IS the source of our provision and that our work is an act of worship to Him.
Provision is a by-product, not an end in itself.
Work is no longer something that must be sweated and toiled upon to make ends meet.
“Could this really be true?” you might be saying. God has made it clear that obedience is the assurance of provision.
Whenever we go beyond the normal workday due to fear of non-provision, we are operating in unbelief.
We are saying that it is up to US to make things happen.
Sure, there are times when we work longer hours due to a deadline, but we must be sure the motive is not out of fear of loss or fear of non-provision.
If we are obedient to what God has called us to, He will provide our every need.
This can be a hard lesson for goal-oriented workplace believers.
***When God slips from first place in our lives, everything else loses its meaning.
*Life seems to be no more than the tiresome process of making money to spend on food, clothing, and shelter–just getting through the day we can do the same thing again tomorrow.
**But when God has first priority, life becomes an adventure. Even our routine projects take on meaning and promise because they hold a greater purpose.
If you are “filled with your own ways” and bored with life, check your relationship with God.
I recall coming into this understanding. I had been an on the road workaholic. Long hours and days gone was the normal Mean. Then God shook up my world and I went through divorce, bankruptcy, Loneliness, lack of trust, feelings of unwortyness, anger etc. Etc. I was challenged to examine my motives for these evils happening to me.
I realized the source of those long hours was fear. Once I came into this understanding, I refused to work long hours even though the natural man would tell me I’d never make things happen if I worked a normal work week.
Again, this reasoning is based on a lack of faith. If we are obedient to what God has called each of us to, we will not lack. At times it may be less than what we might like; at other times it may be more than we deserve. These are God’s ways.
The Bible tells us to come out of Babylon. Babylon is a system of work and philosophy that is contrary to God’s ways.
Are you operating in any aspect of work from a Babylonian value system? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you. Begin to walk in the freedom He has given us in our work life.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
When we enter into His presence, we can rest on Him, on His Word!
His Word is the truest and most infallible principal/moral system in existence which, if believed, has the power to separate your soul (emotion- tired & ready to quit) from the spirit (the eternal truth- God cares & has an appointed end for us in which we PROSPER)! Believe, walk in love, seek His presence, & KNOW that we labor only to enter into His rest! Rest IS available! God IS the reward and He IS the rest that we seek. Amen