Think back to a time when you were part of a team through school, church, business, volunteer work, or sports. With that experience fresh in your mind, answer the following: What was your team’s primary goal? Prepare a class presentation? Share the gospel with 500 people? Increase sales by 25 percent in three districts? Win a state or national championship? Did your team meet its goals? Why did your group effort succeed or fail? Who worked the hardest on your team? Did anyone fail to put forth the effort needed to achieve the desired results?
On almost every team, there’s a standout performer, the one who works tirelessly and who diligently makes “use of everything they find.” There’s also often a person who’s rich with talent, but who’s lazy and poor at execution; the type of person who doesn’t “even cook the game they catch” (Proverbs 12:27).
People who fail to make the most of opportunities or to follow through with their responsibilities hurt not only themselves, but also their teammates. God’s Word has much to say about the value of work. For example:
• “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper” (Proverbs 13:4).
• “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).
• “Be happy in [your] work. That is why we are here!” (Ecclesiastes 3:22).
• “Enjoy your work . . . this is indeed a gift from God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19).
• “Those who work [hard] deserve their pay” (Luke 10:7).
Jesus also said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27 NIV). Make it your goal to complete what God calls you to do, keeping in mind that no work “you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ruth 3:1-18
More:
Read Acts 20:24 to see the work God assigned to Paul. Consider how this is your work as well.
Next:
What is something God is calling you to do? How are you putting forth the required work to complete it?
eppistle on March 17, 2011 at 7:49 am
God has blessed some Christians with five “talents,” but most of us are merely two or even just one talent Christians (see Matthew 25:15-30). Instead of envying the five talent Christian, let’s enjoy the five talent Christian, and let’s work hard to do the most with the talents that God has given us. Because it’s not required in us to be impressive, instead “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (I Corinthians 4:2). As I tell my girls, “You don’t have to be the best, but you need to do your best.” Are you doing your best with what you have for the glory of the Lord?
loananna on March 17, 2011 at 8:23 am
I Thank you so much for your message today. It touched my heart, yesterday i was in the dumps as I am a realtor specializing in helping people with the daunting task of trying to keep their home or short sale. I pray over my clients and have been blessed by the Lord with a multitude of clients. I believe my sucess has been a gift but I too am facing foreclosure trying to keep my home,(long story), and i look around and i can’t find anyone I can tell my heartache too. So I pray,pray and pray some more. I know the Lord is working to help me and my family get out of the devastation we are in,but sometimes I forget that he is all we need to strengthen us. He renews our talents so that we can feed his sheep and do his work. Thank you Lord..
sowharvest on March 17, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Loananna
Surely my family and I are facing the same situations as most Americans. I too have been placed in position whereby I became the representative who herself needed help. Thank GOD that GOD is all we have. Yes, we can look around and be discouraged but the Lord Jesus is merciful and gracious to our cries and we are never NEVER alone. Look around you have a community/family of us praying for you and with you (as well as for your clients and I for mine). So I lift up your petitions in prayer before the LORD and u are right HE is Faithful. Let me remind you of John 14:13 “whatsoever you ask in my name that will I do, [so that] the Father may be glorified in the Son.” May GOD Bless you.
roxanne robbins on March 17, 2011 at 10:50 am
My heart has been heavy for the workers in Japan that are risking their lives to bring the Fukushima nuclear crisis under control.
Readers, what are your thoughts about the sacrificial work these individuals in Japan are in the midst of?
mzmelodee on March 17, 2011 at 11:07 am
Heavenly Father GOD, we come before your Throne of Grace in Name of our Lord and, Savior, Jesus Christ. In His Name, Father, we lift up before YOU those who have survived the crisis in Japan and, ask that YOU bless them with all that they need, spiritually, physically, emotionally and, mentally. We ask that YOU bless them with the Peace of Jesus, that YOU may be glorified in the midst of this tragedy. We lift up before YOU, Father GOD, those who are risking their own lives to assist those who have survived and, to search for those who are lost. Praise YOUR Holy Name, in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and, Savior. Let all of my brother-and-sisters-in-Christ Jesus say… AMEN!
pastorasa on March 17, 2011 at 11:30 am
Great word Roxanne!!
winn collier on March 17, 2011 at 12:05 pm
I’m pondering the implication you draw out about our work being an expression of our identity as a community, the community of God. That certainly elevates a purely individualistic impulse…
tom felten on March 17, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Good points Roxanne and Winn, our individual work is connected to and elevated by its link to all believers. What we do individually reflects on the entire Body of Christ.
OnMyWayHome on March 17, 2011 at 7:49 pm
“Readers, what are your thoughts about the sacrificial work these individuals in Japan are in the midst of?”
For the men and women who are placing their lives on the line it must be hard knowing that they will either be sick or even die from the radiation.
John 15:13
Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
pri1465 on March 17, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Am praying for the workers at the nuclear plant. They are heroes. Their families too. How deep their pain must be knowing their loved ones might die any second. Praying for God to give courage & strength to all the Japanese people.