Rejoicing In Labour

"Here is what I have seen: it is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. ¹⁹ As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God."

Ecclesiastes 5:18-19

King Solomon understood work and the ability to enjoy the good that comes from it is a gift of God.  There is great diversity in what we commonly call work, whether it be the motion of a body or machine, paid employment, mixing, manufacturing, raising children, fabricating, lifting stock, operating equipment, cleaning or managing a business--and the list goes on.  We are resigned to do what we consider to be necessary work, but if something is "extra" work we can look upon it with disdain.  In my generation many people aspired to earn university degrees to work with their minds rather than their hands, creating a false dichotomy that one who works with their hands is not very bright.

Did you know God instituted work and rest from labour from the beginning when He created the heavens and the earth?  He created Adam from the dust of the ground and set him to work by tending the garden of Eden.  Adam was made responsible to keep the garden and also was given freedom to eat of the fruit of it.  It is true that work became harder after Adam's fall into sin, for he would toil by the sweat of his brow to clear weeds and coax fruit, vegetables, herbs and grain from the ground.  The fact work is difficult should not malign this good gift from God and enjoyment of the rewards of our labour.  Not only can work be satisfying in itself, but it brings greater pleasure to enjoy rest God provides by His grace.

Part of the reason work became difficult is because of sin that corrupted the hearts of men made way for selfishness, envy and greed--cruel taskmasters that are never satisfied.  There is a desire to gain the reward of labour by labouring as little as possible, even if it means by theft, illicit or immoral means.  Work and profit can become our god or a means to achieve our desires of riches, ease, possessions and acclaim.  Knowing work is a gift from God we all are called to embrace, the avoidance of work can reveal our sloth and indolence.  Paul rebuked busybodies in his second epistle to the Thessalonians that they ought to work with quietness and eat their own bread.  Jesus said in John 5:17 His Father in heaven was always working, and so did He.  We should take heed to Christ's example to do good works, for unto this we are called and saved.

It is good and fitting for us to eat, drink and enjoy the good of all our labour under the sun, for it is our heritage or portion from God.  When we seek to avoid necessary work we deny ourselves the full reward God has freely provided for us by His grace.  Whether part of the rewards of our labour is to receive financial compensation, the satisfaction of seeing a job completed well or that the work will need to be done all over again from the start tomorrow, we can rejoice in our God who gives good gifts and the ability to receive them.  As servants of the most high God, let us take to heart the exhortation in Colossians 3:22-24:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."

When our labour is unto the LORD it becomes a sanctified and holy work regardless of how mundane it may be.  We need not be crushed by the daily grind because we realise the reward of our labour is more than hourly pay or a holiday at the end of the year:  today, we get to serve the LORD Jesus in doing our chores at home, tackling tasks on a jobsite or office, managing people and choosing to walk in love towards all.  Our job might be to navigate some intense trials and fix our eyes on God in the face of devastation like Jeremiah who wrote in Lamentations 3:24, "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I hope in Him!"  Asaph concluded in Psalm 73:26 after observing others who prospered while he suffered, "My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."  Happy is the man who receives his portion and rejoices in his labour unto the LORD, for those who fear God realise Jesus is our portion we have received with whom we have fellowship and fullness of joy forever.