When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden God told him: “Cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you. In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread.” Many people consider this to be part of the curse of sin. But I believe this to be wrong. Instead I believe that God was saying, even though you have sinned I am going to give you knowledge, abilities, wisdom and talents to work. You will be able to experience the sweet feeling of rest after a hard days work.

Satisfaction is sweet when it comes from a job well done. Sleep comes easy after a hard day’s work. A sweat soaked shirt is a badge of honor that is achieved with honest labor. Food tastes better when you have earned it with your own abilities. Work is a blessing from God. Throughout the Bible we find God honoring and blessing the people who work hard and earn their own food. But in 2 Thessalonians 3 we find God saying that a person who will not work should not eat.

Work comes to us in many ways. Carpenters build houses, teachers inspire young children, lawyers seek justice and doctors strive to bring healing. Each one working with their talents in their field. Meanwhile a truck driver delivers a load, and a preacher delivers a sermon, while a farmer brings in his crop and a C.E.O. manages a company. Each job is different, but each job is important. Some jobs pay more than others, but everyone who works deserves what they earn.

Whatever job we find ourselves doing, wherever we find ourselves working, we should consider ourselves blessed by God. Whatever our hands find to do, we should do it for the glory of God. In Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 the Bible tells us “It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor, it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He also gives him right to eat of it, to rejoice in the fruit of his labor—this is the gift of God.”

Douglas & Deborah Huff

From Down Where The Pavement Ends

email- pavementendsministry@gmail.com