Helpful verses on Hard-work
My Friend said this to me last week, and I don’t even think she realized the impact of her words that continued to ring in my ears. She said, “God is a God of hard-work.”
I hate to break it to you, but what we want out of life won’t be easy!! It will require a lot of hard work.
God doesn’t want hardship and poverty for us; however, things won’t be our version of easy, and “microwave-ably quick" because God likes hard work.
Growing up listening to Bible stories of legends like Abraham, Noah, Paul, and Moses. We can be so enamored by their great deeds that it almost feel like a fairy-tale. You ooh and ahh at the explanation of their actions, without the realization that it all took HARD WORK!
There was a lot of faith, and relationship, and determination needed to endure what they did. Therefore, it’s time to get out of our Sunday school mindset and realize, it will take the same amount of effort to access God’s blessings.
How do we know God values Hard Work?
His words tell us. The first man created received the commission to work.
He gave this task to Adam because he was purposed to do it. No one else was made to do what he was asked to do. In fact, no vegetation was yet made until God knew there would be someone to work the ground.
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” - Genesis 2:15 (NIV)
God values hard work, even if who you are working for, or with don’t deserve your 100% effort. He wants us to look past their faults as leaders and work like it’s for Him.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” - Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
God wants the job to get done and understands a sluggard can prevent the development of something. Regardless of how you may feel about it, God wants your work to reflect your desire to please him. Because in the end He has a reward for you.
What is the outcome of Laziness?
Hard Work is a great deal of effort and endurance. Something that is considered hard, can be seen as subjective to the person. For example, waking up early may be hard for me but easy for my husband. Therefore, everyone will soon come to something that they will find hard.
That is why God desires your effort more than laziness. Laziness is a problem of proper work ethics.
“The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.” - Proverbs 21:25 (NIV)
The more a lazy person gives into the desire to not do anything, the more he dies to the desire to be productive. He will soon not see this as an error and continue in this way.
“Lazy people take food in their hand but don’t even lift it to their mouth”- Proverbs 26:15
Which means you have the power to give yourself what is needed to make a change but decide not to because the habit of laziness. Don’t let laziness make you foolish.
Why should I desire to Work Hard?
1. First realize, there is no way around it. Success takes hard work!
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. - Proverbs 10:4-5 (ESV)
Since certain things in life may come easy, we believe God’s blessings should work the same. There is a reason God doesn’t give the full vision to us. Because we would highlight more of the difficulties rather than what we would gain.
2. Secondly, we should desire to work hard because our God does.
Job Chapter 38
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— READ ON
3. Thirdly, we should desire to work hard because God knows the skills and knowledge that will be needed for our next season. Therefore, let’s not complain but take notes.
“If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan? – Jeremiah 12:5 (NIV)
4. Fourthly, we should desire it because it’s a principle. This fundamental truth has been in the beginning. What you put in; you will receive.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. -Galatians 6:7 (ESV)
These great men and women from the Bible not only profited through obedience, but also hard work and laboring. Don’t talk about it, be about it.
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” - Proverbs 14:23 (NIV)
I guess the only thing left to do is, get to work!
