Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Deuteronomy 8:10-12, 17-18 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day . . . [Do not say] to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.
THANK THE LORD FOR THE ABILITY HE GIVES YOU TO EARN A LIVING
The Israelites were soon to cross the River Jordan into the Promised Land. Before they did so, the Lord had a special promise and an important reminder to share. His promise? I will enable you, upon your entrance into Canaan, to enjoy an abundance of material wealth. His reminder? All the blessings you will enjoy in your new homeland will come to you, not as a by-product of your hard work and skill, but as a result of My undeserved love. Apart from My goodness, you would not have a stalk in the field, a crumb in the kitchen, or a penny in the house. Always remember it. And may your thankfulness for the many evidences of My fatherly goodness inspire you to walk in the way of My commandments with a joyful and thankful heart.
The Lord uses such Scriptures also as a reminder to us, His New Testament Israel. He teaches us too to rely on Him to provide everything we need for our earthly lives. He invites us to pray to Him for our daily bread and to know that He will supply it. He would have us continually keep in mind that all the material blessings we enjoy are the product, not of our own hard work and ingenuity, but His bountiful care. He it is who enables us to "bring home the bacon" as we use the skills, energy, and the physical and mental abilities He gives us to hold down on job and earn a living.
So, are you a whiz at working with numbers as an accountant? Is your specialty fixing cars? Are you a computer geek or a master carpenter? Whatever your talents, recognize them as gifts from the Lord. Praise Him for blessing you with the physical and mental stamina needed for doing your work. Count on Him to supply your all-important spiritual needs and your day to day earthly needs. Then, walk cheerfully in the way of His commandments, serving Him energetically in your earthly calling, as an expression of your gratitude.
Dear God, thank You for giving me the strength I need to carry out my daily work responsibilities. I depend on You to give me a place of employment, the physical stamina I need to do my job, the mental abilities I need to serve my employer, and the emotional stamina to carry on from day to day. May all I do be to Your glory and in loving response to all You have done in providing for my earthly needs and especially for the love You have shown to me in Jesus my Savior. Amen.
