Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.
This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)
Just a word and a question (or few)…just a little something to
"fan the flame" of your creativity!
And, to further fan those faith-filled flames (try saying that 10 times in a row!) – I'm adding my favorite devotional from the week!
Today's word: work
How would you define work?
What work do you consider tedious, and what work is enjoyable?
What work do you think you are called to do for the Lord?
Do you think He rewards our work? How?
Let me know what you think!!
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."
(Hebrews 6:10, NIV)
"This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers."
(1 Timothy 4:10, NLT)
"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." (John 6:27, NIV)
"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!" (Psalm 90:17, ESV)
DEVOTIONAL OF THE WEEK:
(From the Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Parable of the Talents)
Whether this parable (the ten virgins) speaks to the Jews or to all people, it stands as an awesome reminder that a day will come for all when Jesus calls believers to eternity with him...Some like to believe that they have ample time to get their spiritual lives in order, but they risk being caught off guard...
In a similar vein, the parable of the talents teaches believers that God holds us responsible for the work he has given us until Jesus' return. The kingdom of God is real, Jesus stresses.
*What is the work of preparation or kingdom building that God has given you to do?
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead...Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds...Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did...As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (From James 2:14-25, NIV)
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
(Devotional from: "Meet the Bible" by Philip Yancey and Brenda Quinn, c. 2000, Zondervan Publishers)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
The first word that came to mine was labor. Work requires effort on our part but I do believe God rewards us for the work with do. Although it is necessary, it also can be quite rewarding.
ReplyDeletelast night my youngest was helping me change the sheets. I told her I hate that job the most. There you go...that's the worst...the bed is too big...the sheets to wonky trying to put them on but with a little help her and I ended up giggling together. So the worst was made better. Now if I can approach everything like that....getting help with the tedious.....the tough stuff...the not fun things....then life becomes so much easier. Happy Friday, Sharon. Hope it shines for you.
ReplyDeleteThe most tedious work for me is trying to understand what an English as second language doctor is saying when he is speaking at 1000 words a minute, LOL :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, I think of Colossians 3:23:-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
If we take that type of attitude with all the work we do, whether it be unstacking the dishwasher, kingdom work, employment work, etc., I think it would please God.
I do think too God rewards us for our work, definitely on the other side of eternity, but here too with special blessings we get, especially out of the blue, etc.
Hope this makes sense.
betty
Hi Sharon
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend. I will ponder your questions about work. Take Care
Hi Sharon! I suppose I don't like work that someone else wants me to do. I'd rather just set my own pace. (I wonder what planet allows that? I need to go there!)
ReplyDeleteI think the concept of 'work' is just that. A concept. I can put as much meaning into it as I would like. Maybe God wants me to work, maybe he wants me to use my talents, maybe he wants me to help someone. The work is all the same, just three different attitudes. I need to see all of my life as God's love and service.
Have a good weekend, my friend!
ceil
I think work can be a four letter word we avoid if our attitude is wrong, or work can be a four letter word that brings fulfillment and joy. I believe we were made to work...which would bring us joy!
ReplyDeleteI like to cook and that's work but it's pleasant. I dislike cleaning my oven...that's work. I like to think of purpose these days because I can't be as active as I use to be to work for the Lord physically because of my stiff knee. So I'm concentrating on relationships which is my passion - encouraging others and praying for people and it doesn't seem like work but purpose.
ReplyDeleteI think of work as that which produces something. It can be tangible or intangible, but in the end there is something produced from the labor. One of my favorite quotes is from Ernest Hemmingway: "Never mistake motion for action." I like to say, "Never mistake motion for work."
ReplyDeleteI think raising my daughters was work, but it was work that didn't feel like labor because I enjoyed every minute of it.
As for the work I was called to do? Well, TBH I used to think it was writing and teaching. I have loved both of those for as long as I can remember.
Recently, I have decided that writing is/was probably more of a dream than a calling. Teaching is different. I loved every moment of secular teaching and only stopped because I loved it TOO much and couldn't juggle the over achievement and raise my girls at the same time.
When I started teaching Bible study, I found a way to use my passion for the kingdom. There is nothing that gives me any greater joy than grinding out hours and hours (and hours and hours...) of "work" to prepare for a lesson, and then putting it all together and THEN teaching the class. (I've mentioned before that I do not believe you are called to teach unless you are first and foremost called to learn. Lean not on your own understanding...)
Sometimes, I admit that I am guilty of counting the numbers and feeling unrewarded for my work. I calculate the hours spent as compared to what I could be earning even at a minimum wage job. Those are the moments when Satan hurls insult and injury in my direction. And then, I will get an email or call from someone for whom my work produced a result. That's the reward He gives me for my work.
Do I wish the reward were more tangible? I would be lying if I said that I didn't. He's still working on that in me.
I can relate to work, however, I don't consider what I do work because I love what I do and I love all the wonderful people I meet in the process. I am sitting with a mutual friend, Kathryn Ross, who has been a tremendous help getting me introduced to blogland. Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you will return.
ReplyDeleteCheerio,
Karan
I am sorry I am so late. Things have been in a world wind here. Just wanted to say hello and that I love yah!
ReplyDelete