All Day in the Sun, 11×7, oil, painted 1998 in British Columbia, Canada
Get to work; it’s a gift of God.
What? Yes! Our Ecclesiastes author says so repeatedly, at least six times, each as wrap up of other ponderings. “I don’t understand this and I don’t understand that,” he says, “but one thing I know: To enjoy my work is a gift of God.” That’s my paraphrase. It’s also become my own conclusion.
Think about it. Each of us has a talent, likely a number of talents. To put them to use gives us pleasure, focus, purpose. Without them, we’d be lumps of nothing. With, we’re engines of energy just looking for how to put them to use. That’s our work.
It was a gift from the beginning. Adam was a landscape gardener. And that was before the curse!* He may have been in paradise, but God knew he was going to need something to do. The maintenance and rearrangement of the created resources, that’s been our part ever since.
A person who has found where and how to make his particular contribution according to his own talent will never “work” another day. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Or rethink your current situation.
Work is only onerous when it’s against the grain.
Okay, it’s always a little against the grain. Very little is “easy.” There’s always at least a bit of resistance, sometimes a lot. But facing up to the challenge, overcoming the inertia, and expressing our own uniqueness in the process, that’s what we do. That’s our work, and one of our great reasons for being.
“TGIM,” that’s what Ecclesiastes says. “Thank God it’s Monday!”
Here are some direct quotes:
Six Direct Quotes
My heart took delight in all my work. 2:10
A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. 2:24
There is nothing better for a man than to be happy and do good while he lives . . . and find satisfaction in all his toil. 3:12,13
It is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor. 5:18
Nothing is better for a man . . . than to eat and drink and be glad . . . then joy will accompany him in his work. 8:15
Whatever you hand finds to do, do it with all your might. 9:10
For Good Reason
That’s a lot of restating of the same theme. There must be good reason.
Rest is fine, diversions and entertainments have their time; but they’ll never give meaning.
Even a job that’s not particularly wonderful at least provides a rhythm to the life, a self-experssion in some way, a context for a bit of creativity, for relationship, and a part to play in some larger cause.
It’s a gift. Each of us has something, first to hone, then to contribute. The opportunities are everywhere. The garden still needs tending.
So get your gloves, get your shears, and get going.
It’ll make you who you are.
_______________________
* Gen. 2:15
Next time: Things are What they Are. Coming Wednesday.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
11:05 am
Good insight, Hyatt. Talking to a person who cannot find work or is unable to work proves your point. Thanks for these writings.
11:12 am
Thanks, Hyatt, for your work of painting this picture for us of God’s beautiful gift of work. I remember how Jesus said it was like food to Him to do the will and work of His Father. He described our work as believing in the One the Father sent, and that there is incomparably great power for us who believe. I love that!. Jesus was at work right up until His last breath, and if we love Him our desire will be to do the same. I have noticed that when my work seems overwhelming and I look to Him for strength and direction, He shows me more of the gifts He has already provided in me and I become more of who He made me to be. It’s an exhilarating process!
2:43 pm
Excellent, Hyatt… It so sad to see so few today who value & see the need for honest, rewarding labor. Everyone seems to want MORE for LESS, from employers to employees. :-)
2:46 pm
Very timely and appreciated. Thanks, Hyatt.
2:54 pm
Oh Hyatt, again, dead on! I am definitely on the same journey as you are! I love love love my work! My parents directed me into a profession I hated! That was truly work for me after getting my degree in their dream job for me! When, on my own and with God’s great hand at my back pushing me forward, I found my true passion and now all I can say each and every Monday morning is TGIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes! God has stretched me, honed me, encouraged me, made me wait until the perfect timing, created right through me, and it has all been such a joy! Better than I could ever have imagined! Love Lisa
3:50 pm
Well…all I can say about that is this. Being in both the domestic engineering and internal paradigm adjustment business has certainly made me more patient and taught me a lot about what love is.
I am a wife and a mother. Joy is the best paycheck there is.
6:42 pm
A few weeks ago, while visiting the east coast I went to daily mass at a small church down the road from our hotel. After mass a woman approached and struck up a conversation. After only a moment she asked for me to pray for her need of employment. I have felt the emptiness of not having productive work to do and assured her I would pray for her. Here several weeks later and I still think of her simple request and lift her up to God. Thanks Hyatt, for spotlighting these great verses.
9:37 am
As a mother of 5 who has not worked outside the home for nearly 35 years, I’ve often laughed said “The best part about not working, is- not working.” On a more serious note, my husband often states the fact that there is a certain majesty in work and that work is it’s own reward. These views on “work” have “worked” for us.
By the way, when we got married my salary as a full time teacher with a master’s degree would have all gone towards income tax based upon my husband’s salary at the time according to our CPA, so I quit. It was one of the best descisions we ever made.