Day 7: Working With A Cheerful Heart
We should:
- Work Hard
- Work With A Cheerful Heart
- Not Complain
- Work To Glorify God
- Not Be Lazy
Now I am Going to share a whole slew of Bible Verses related to these things. God is the only one who can tell you how important working hard, and all the components that go with it is.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
2 Timothy 2:6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
Titus 2:7-8 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Proverbs 12:11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
James 2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Jeremiah 31:16-17 Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.
Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Romans 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Psalm 128:2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
Proverbs 18:9 Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
Exodus 18:18-23 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Jeremiah 29:5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce.
Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
Psalm 90:17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
It is obviously important for us to work hard in all things we do, and we should never do any kind of work with a grudging heart. God does not tell us to work hard because he wants to see us work as slaves, He knows what is best for us. Working hard, having a job, will save us from being idle, lazy, will protect us from others gossip, will help us have a happy and provided family, will keep us from having troubles with our families and will teach us valuable lessons.
Our "work" doesn't necessarily have to be a job at a business or work place. Our work could be at home, doing chores, taking care of our families. It could be at school, doing our assignments, completing homework. At church, fulfilling our duties there, volunteering, giving to others, ministering, our Sunday school classes, childrens church, even just activities. It could be helping others in need. God doesn't just limit "Work hard, have a good heart, glorify God, no complaining, no laziness" to jobs or careers. He is telling us to be hard working in all aspects of our lives.
Happy 2015,
Megan