Your Daily Devotional for August 10, 2007

 

August 10,  2007

 

 

A Pattern of Work

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates."

 

Exodus 20:8-10

 

 

Years ago, I was at a restaurant that only allowed one trip to the salad bar. Needless to say, I loaded my plate! I soon found out though that loading the plate is easy, but walking with a loaded plate is not easy. That rule not only applies to a restaurant, but it applies to life as well. We can sometimes have our plate so full with schedules, meetings, and work that it is hard to balance everything in our lives.

 

We all face the battle against time and the struggle for rest. Have you noticed how tired people in today's world are? Physically, emotionally, and spiritually, people are drained from the hectic schedules they face. The pace of their lives is not sustainable. A Johns Hopkins University study showed that forty-three percent of American adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. It also showed that seventy-five percent of all visits to a physician's office are related to stress. And each year American industry loses $300 billion because of stress-related absenteeism. But God has designed our lives to reflect an order of work and rest.

 

God has designed a pattern of work for us. He showed us His plan through Creation. Exodus 20:9 says, "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work." When God created the world, He gave us a pattern for work. Our God is a creating God, and He has designed us to be productive and creative as well. The dignity of work is rooted in the nature of God. Psalm 33:6 says, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."

 

Someone once said, "Your work is an expression of the image of God in you, and it's worth thinking about how your work reflects His character. Work as simple as cleaning out a closet reflects the God who creates order out of chaos. Holding a stop sign for children to cross the road creates an environment of safety that reflects the God who protects. The person who flips burgers is providing food, which is something that God does. A father or mother who nurtures a child reflects the love, patience, and perseverance of God. The CEO of a large business holds things together and moves things forward. This too is a reflection of God's work."

 

God has also shown us his pattern of work through His earthly life. When Christ came to earth, He did not come as a king, but as a humble carpenter's son. In keeping with the Jewish tradition, our Lord learned the trade of his father and worked hard alongside him. Luke 2:52 says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." Jesus chose to work hard and grew in knowledge and in favor with God and man. He showed us a pattern of work as He lived here on earth.

 

Before we can ever experience God's rest, we must be busy about His work. He has given us a pattern of work through Creation and His earthly ministry. We must look to His example and work hard for His glory.

 

Are you working hard? Have you patterned your work after God's example? God desires that each of us would work hard so our work would glorify Him. Take time now to ask God to help you balance all your work today. Determine to be a hard worker to the glory of God!

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 79-80 • Romans 11:1-18

 

 

 

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