Beautiful Work

Proverbs 18:9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.

Sometimes the right scripture comes along at just the right time to rock my world and revolutionize my thinking. This was one of those weeks.

I had already been mulling over in my mind some thoughts about changes I needed to make in my habits, but good choices take a lot of work. I had to convince myself that work is a good thing. Then I stumbled onto this verse and everything around me stopped. I was profoundly moved.

Why?

Because, when I don’t concentrate on fulfilling the work in front of me, I am partnering with those who tear things down instead of building things up. I am becoming the problem not the solution. I am the distraction and not the guide to something better. I am becoming one who destroys.

Gulp!

Okay, now what?

Well, sometimes I have good reasons not to work, right? Vacations, down-time, illnesses, trials. Play-time is essential to balance out my work. I’m a better person when I have a chance to be restored.

Yet, our choices for down-time can quickly turn into bad habits. TV and phones are great examples, but there’s so much more that grabs our attention away from the important stuff of life, away from our need to ‘work.’

A few days into today’s verse, the colossal mistakes of King David and Bathsheba came to mind.

Look at what started King David’s downfall:
II Sam. 11:1 “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.” (The story continues in David’s restless state in lusting after a woman, sleeping with her and she gets pregnant. David has her husband killed at war. David and the woman marry, and the baby tragically dies.) Yikes!

Go back to the beginning of this story in the verse above:

1. “In the spring…”
   This was a time when it would have been right for David to be with his men (working) and not at home slacking off. This was not vacation time. He should have been in the heat of battle.
2. The story goes on to say that King David sent his staff away. Was he hiding something? Had he already seen the woman and now he would go after her without the distraction of people around him? What work do we neglect that causes us to hide in the dark with our sins? Sin and trouble happen in the darkness and isolation.
3. But David…
   The others left to go do their job, but David remained in Jerusalem.
   He stayed home, yet it became more than just ‘home.’
   
   Jerusalem became his temptation. I have to ask myself, what is my Jerusalem? I may not choose to commit adultery or murder, but what temptations lure me? Where is the place I pull away from responsibilities and work and restlessly wander about looking for excitement and adventure?

The two passages, Proverbs 18:9 and II Samuel 11:1 go perfect together.

Question: What defines work for me?

It is my work to eat right, exercise, drink water and care for this body of mine.
I manage our home, finances, meals, repairs and balance the activities we do as a family.
My work is to serve people around me by giving to their felt needs, but also their deeper needs.
My work is to pray for others and mentor those in need.
In trials, I work to stay close to the Father.
In grief, my work is to put one foot in front of the other and remember that life will eventually go on. Sometimes, grief is my work. Other times it is my teacher and the work is to learn from it, be comforted in it and eventually comfort others.

At night, my work is to sleep. When I veer from this work (through things I call ‘down-time’ into the late hours of night or letting thoughts move into hyper speed), I don’t have much to offer the next day. I can easily destroy so much in relationships and responsibilities.

In fact, the benefits of attending to sleep and not the iPhone are many: I have more calm and peace when the morning comes, more time to do my real work and have less anger. I
accomplish more with increased productivity. I have more time for husband and family, am more able to meet my spiritual foe with the armor of God and am more flexible. I have energy to better train my kids, cover over wrongs and offenses of others, heed the spirit’s fruit, hear God’s call instead of being distracted and am better prepared for the nights I have to be awake in emergency situations (because I am well rested).

The consequences of good choices have endless possibilities and help me to reach the most important goals of life! I have far greater adventures and excitement when God’s way is sought rather than seeking these adventures in secret or over-committing to earthly callings. These benefits are motivators for me to step onto the right path.

Sleep is my work at night.
My greatest work during the day is to serve my husband and family.

The list goes on and on.

Sometimes, I tell people, “Marriage is hard. It takes a lot of work!” To this, I receive all kinds of looks. No one likes to work THAT hard! And a lot of marriages fail from slacking in this vital responsibility.

Yet, work is not a bad word. Some may see it as drudgery, hardship and pain. To me, work is a blessing to dive into and reap the benefits. It is a discipline that trains us in all other areas of life. We are capable, strong people that God equips for the work He calls us to do, for His glory, His name and in His honor. We work as if we were working for the Lord! (Col. 3:23)

I work hard in my marriage (so does my husband) and my marriage reflects that accomplishment. We don’t always want to do the work, but when we move past the feelings and let God shine through us, we are building good things in marriage and in our communities, not destroying good things in our slacking of hard work.

When I look back on the days I worked hard (in whatever defines work for each moment), I can be proud of my achievements, feel good within myself and lay my head on the pillow at night knowing I did everything I could to obey my Father in heaven.

That obedience isn’t a need to earn or prove something to Him. I don’t obey in order to be loved more. Obedience is the knowledge of something beautiful I am capable of finishing because He made me so. He wants to bless and show His power through my life! He invites me to make good choices that result in successful, bright, beautiful ‘buildings’ and not destructive rubble on the ground.

Father, go before me in the work you give me this day. The enemy is near. He wants to steal, kill and destroy my life. Sometimes he whispers in my ear to resent my work or complain. In reality, HIS work is about lies, deception and darkness. He wants me to concentrate on my groans and complaints and not on the higher beauty you are birthing in my life. Help me to see work as a gift from your hands that will form me more into your son’s likeness. I have learned through trials and struggles this week that some things just don’t matter. Focus me on the greater priorities of life. Keep me on the straight path. Clothe me in the armor of God to stand in the day of trouble. I love you forever, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.