Well, it’s another Sunday morning. “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24 (ESV)
When I was around 10 years old and I started mowing a few yards for spending money, my mom and dad bought a nice mower for me to use after the old one had broken down. I did this for a few summers before we moved to Sparta, Illinois, where I got my first real job. I took a job bagging ice daily. I would scoop the ice by hand into paper ice bags, I would weigh them on a kitchen scale, ten pounds at a time. Staple the top shut and then put them in a big freezer. It was spending money, it also was teaching me responsibility. I didn’t realize that at the time or I might have run for the hills, what kid of fourteen wants to be responsible anyway. This was the start of my working career, I had no idea then what God had in store for me, but he sure did. We can read this in, Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) where it says this, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’
I continued my work career doing everything from working at a gas station to working in retail at a farm supply store. I was learning to be responsible, I was learning to earn a wage. I continued my work path, working with my dad in home construction till one day dad told me he had a job for me as an electrician’s helper. Not being real sure what that was I reluctantly took the job. It was hard work, but I was making good money and was happy. Colossians 3:23 (ESV) says this about working, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
I continued my electrical career throughout my life. That small job that my dad got for me and some hard work on my part, blossomed into something that fed my family. It also, clothed my children, educated them, gave us shelter, and allowed us some of the finer things we have had.
I started working what I would consider a full time job when I was fourteen, I am now retired, it has been a long and good career. I thank God for it. At times it has been hard work, but it was always gratifying knowing that this was the path our Father had in mind for me before I was even a twinkle in my parents eyes. Psalm 37:5 (ESV) says this, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”
Here is the thing, I never stood with my hand out wanting someone to give me anything I didn’t earn, I worked for what I have. My dad always said, “Talk is cheap, it takes money to buy whiskey.” The problem with the world today is this, “We” have made it too easy for others to stand and talk with their hand out and we just fill their hands with money. Instead of giving them money, put a shovel in their hand, give them a job. If they want to eat they will work. Proverbs 13:4 (ESV) tells us this, “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.” There are too many able body people that would rather sit and have it handed to them than go out and earn it, most of them are making more than the guy killing himself working every day. This truly needs to stop. The difference is this, the working person can say, ‘no one gave it to me, I earned it. I did what God has planned for me. I am proud of my career, I did what I was supposed to do to support my family. God gave me a good path and I thank Him daily for that.’
God wants us to finish the race strong, He wants us to be happy in all we do. God only asks us to spread the good word of Him and share the love He has for all of us. I would like to do that today, God truly loves each and every one of you and so do I.
