WORK UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS!
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good. (Ecclesiastes 11:6)
DO EVERYTHING FOR THE LORD
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, (Colossians 3:23)
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9:4)
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 4:34)
OUR LABOUR WILL NOT GO IN VAIN
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. (Ecclesiastes 11:1)
THE DISCIPLES WORK UNTIL THEY ARE CALLED
– Peter and Andrew were casting their nets in the sea of Galilee to catch fish when Jesus called them to follow Him. They left their nets and went behind Him (Matthew 4:18-20).
– James and John were mending their fishing nets in their boats along with their father Zebedee. Jesus called them. They left their father and their boat and followed Jesus (Matthew 4:21-23).
– Matthew, as he was sitting on his seat at the tax collector’s booth, Jesus called him and he just followed Jesus leaving everything. Jesus had a farewell dinner at Matthew’s house and from then on Matthew became His disciple (Matthew 9:9-10).
– Simon Zelotes (Simon, the Zealot) is said to have been an active member of the Jewish political party, hence the name zealot (Matthew 10:4; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).
– Thomas and Nathanael (Bartholomew) were probably fishermen too (John 21:2). Thaddaeus (Lebbaeus/ Judas) was probably a fisherman too (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18).
– Philip, James and Judas were probably some sort of tradesmen by profession according to Bible scholars.
GIDEON THRESHES UNTIL HE ENCOUNTERS
The Midianites, Amalekites and the people of the East devoured all the yield of Israelites, whether it be of their field or cattle or even food. But there was a young man in Israel named Gideon who was threshing wheat in the winepress hiding the grains from the Midianites. It was then that the angel of God encountered him and called him to save Israel (Judges 6:1-14). Gideon had many excuses to be lethargic and not working, but as he was doing his best, the Lord intervened in his life, blessed him and his nation through him.
THE WIDOW GATHERS WOOD UNTIL SHE ENCOUNTERS
Amidst the famine in the land, the widow of Zarephath was collecting sticks to make breads for her and her son. She did not sit in a corner and brood over what she did not have. She did whatever she could do. The Lord had commanded her to feed prophet Elijah too. That is the reason she complied to the demand of Elijah. The Scripture says that she, Elijah and her household had food for many days when all around them were in absolute famine (1 Kings 17:8-16). She was faithful in little and was blessed, she with her household and the mighty prophet of God.
SAUL SEARCHES HIS ASSES UNTIL HE ENCOUNTERS
Saul, the tallest and most beautiful guy in all of Israel, son of a mighty man with many servants did not just sit, eat and keep beautifying himself but went on an ordinary assignment of searching his father’s donkeys when he met prophet Samuel and was anointed as king over Israel. A day before he met the prophet, the Lord had already told Samuel that Saul would come and he should anoint him as king over Israel. So, before Saul met Samuel, a feast was waiting for him and he was anointed as king (1 Samuel 9:1-10:1).
SAUL, ZEALOUS ON HIS ASSIGNMENT UNTIL HE ENCOUNTERS
Saul of Tarsus was against Jesus Christ and eventually His followers. He was zealous about what he had learnt from the Pentateuch, the commandments of Moses. Jesus met Saul on his way to persecute His own people and this accidental encounter made him the most zealous follower and propagandist of the teachings of Jesus Christ (Acts 9).
KEEP AWAY FROM IDLE AND DISORDERLY BROTHERS
This Saul who is later addressed as Paul in the Scripture warns us to keep away from any believer who is not willing to work. He calls them ‘IDLE & DISORDERLY’ ones. He says that he did not eat any meals free of cost from anyone, even when he had all rights to, for he had taught them the Word of God. He asks us to eat our own bread, and if anyone does not want to work let him not eat, he says. (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12)
ONLY SOWING GIVES REAPING – NO EXCUSE
According to the Scripture, the Lord’s covenant with Noah included ‘Sowing and Reaping as long as the earth endures’ (Genesis 8:22). If we are going to give excuses for sowing our labour, we can never expect a harvest. He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap (Ecclesiastes 11:4). The harvest will pass, the summer will end and we will not be saved (Jeremiah 8:20). We are called to preach the Word of God in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” (Proverbs 22:13)
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square! (Proverbs 26:13)
The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing (Proverbs 20:4).
The slacker will crave but not get anything (Proverbs 13:4) and his craving itself will kill him because his hands refused to work (Proverbs 21:25). A slothful man will be poor and one who tries to get a job done through a lazy man will also get poor (Proverbs 10:4). As vinegar is to the teeth and smoke is to the eyes, so is a lazy servant to his master (Proverbs 10:26).
DON’T BE LAZY IN RECEIVING HIS PROMISES
When promises of God are delayed to be fulfilled, we often tend to give up. But the Scripture calls such people as ‘Sluggish’. “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:10-12) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)
LEARN FROM THE DILIGENCE OF JESUS CHRIST
Even after knowing about the pain and shame He was going to endure, when Jesus knew that His time to be taken to heaven was onset, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). The Scripture calls us to keep running our race, laying aside everything else that is going around us, fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). Let nothing that is going around us distract us from running our routine life. Let us keep running with the hope that we will soon encounter our Lord and everything He has promised is going to be fulfilled. God bless you!
