Walk Of Life – Day 13, January 2021 – Thoughts From The Book of Proverbs
NEW BEGINNINGS – NEW LABOUR
Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labour will increase. – Proverbs 13:11
Labour is a word that means practical work, especially when it involves hard physical effort. This word Labour started in the garden of Eden where God tells Adam that you will toil and till the ground. There are many laws connected to the labour in every country. If anybody has to be punished or treated cruelly, their labour will be increased. The other word that gets connected with labour is wages. Daily wages, weekly wages, monthly wages, term wages and so on and these are interesting.
Different types of labour.
Few toil very hard without breaks and they earn low whereas there are some labours that needs less effort and more thinking which would give a sumptuous salary.
Whatever it might be Bible tells us to labour.
Exodus 20:9 says “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work”
Indeed it’s a great blessing as mentioned in Psalm 128 : 2
“You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.”
The greatest blessing for a labourer as said by the wise King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:12
“Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much”. Oh! this verse is quite encouraging to me as I sleep immediately, I lie down. I feel like the angels are rocking me and patting me, putting me down to sleep.
Apostle Paul says, in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Too rude, but that’s how it should be.
He also says in Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
So, the above verses clearly explain the reason for the labour, the blessings labour brings, the necessity of the labour and the way the labour has to be carried out.
Glory to God for all the labour that we endure. But the days of pandemic there are quite a many who have lost their jobs, received less wages than the actual pay, increased number of hours of work and so on. No other option than going to the feet of the Lord as He has promised
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” – Matthew 11:28.
Come on dearly beloved, let us plead with the Lord for all our labour related issues and the Lord who heard the cry of the Israelites while they were tormented with toil at Egypt is sure to hear our cry as well. Do not be discouraged.
Claim this promise as we read in Ruth 2: 12 “May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.””
These are all related with our physical work whereas apostle Paul describes of a new labour. “LABOUR OF LOVE” in 1 Thessalonians 1:3. How did they labour in love is mentioned in the same chapter verse 9 “TO SERVE THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD”. Shall we all desire more to involve in this labour. I’m quite sure that god is using every brother and sister in His own way but let’s begin this year with a new labour which will never remain unrewarded.
New Resolution : Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord help each and everyone of us to labour for Him with a fervent desire and zeal.
