Daily Encouragement

The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation.

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Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Wagon ride at the Old Windmill Farm

(Photo by Ester)

"Working Wholeheartedly"

Message summary: In our work responsibilities we should indeed serve wholeheartedly. Christians should be diligent, and in fact, as a part of our testimony, be among the best, exemplary workers any company has!

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"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 8:15). "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does" (Ephesians 6:7,8).

Here in the US we are in the midst of a tremendous labor shortage. This is due to many factors and I certainly have my own thoughts on the matter. We see some degree of this in most of the companies we serve as chaplains. This is a major stress factor for those who manage and is especially true in the "trade" fields. We seek to encourage those willing to work with an expression of appreciation for what they do.

Tomorrow I have my HVAC system scheduled for annual service. I already know Conner, the young man who will perform our service since I see him regularly as his chaplain. He's just 21 years old but is already an experienced tech. We are heartened when we see young people working diligently and living life responsibly.

Today many have a bad attitude toward work. Some even feel they have an entitlement not to work. So many people use the familiar expression TGIF, which is an acronym for "Thank God It's Friday" (there's even a restaurant chain named after this theme, although you can eat at TGIF seven days a week). The attitude this expression conveys is that the fun times really begin with the end of the dreaded work week.

Well, we prefer the outlook of a Bible verse that declares, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" That's a truth we can declare each new day!

In today's first text the writer of the Ecclesiastes commends the enjoyment of life. Especially note the phrase "Joy will accompany him in his work". What a blessing we are to others when joy accompanies our work, and it certainly lifts our own spirit as well .

We enjoy preparing these messages usually working together in our small home office. Writing and preparing these messages daily has its challenges but we find great reward in this ministry as well. We're always uplifted to hear from readers locally, nationally, and around the world.

We also enjoy serving as chaplains visiting several local companies and making and receiving calls, texts and emails to those who reach out to us such as the employee who called Brooksyne yesterday.

The nature of any type of work presents challenges and it delivers reward. Challenges give us opportunities to trust God and reward gives us reason to thank Him.

The Scriptural teaching in the second daily text is a call to diligence. This is actually a teaching of the Apostle Paul to Christian slaves but this principle can easily be applied to secular work. Consider the phrase "Serve wholeheartedly". This is specifically pertaining to our work. Now certainly Paul had his priorities right and he was surely not asking them to be any less devoted to serving Christ.

But in our work responsibilities we should indeed serve wholeheartedly. Christians should be diligent, and in fact, as a part of our testimony, be among the best, exemplary workers any company has! What kind of employee are you? I encourage you to consider the end use of the product you are making or service you are providing and the blessing it is to so many people. "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does."

Just as we shared yesterday that we pray for a return to Biblical obedience in regard to God's gift of sexuality, marriage and children. Today we pray that there will be a return to the Biblical understanding of and appreciation for work and a desire to provide for yourself and your own family.

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, when we're tempted to be halfhearted in our vocational work or find ourselves bored by monotonous repetition help us to find creative means that will make us even more productive and content in our work assignments. May our conduct and attitude reflect values set forth in Scripture. Make us a blessing so that we bring joy to our co-workers, supervisors, and to the workplace in general. During times of personality conflict or when disagreements arise bring to our memory file the Scripture that reminds us our primary motivation for being a good worker is that we are serving You which will prompt us to be diligent in our work. Though the weekly paycheck is a monetary reward for saying "Well Done" we look forward to the ultimate reward given to us when we hear You say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joys of heaven". Until that day let us be faithful in service. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Too Good To Not Believe" Video Cody Carnes We have both been blessed by this song the last several weeks!

"Just As Good" Video Chris Renzema

Finally today:

Chipmunks are certainly more delightful to watch than their rodent cousins, mice and rats. But they are multiplying rapidly and becoming quite a pest around our place, especially our barn. Yesterday we heard our border collie Mollie barking and discovered it was directed at a chipmunk that had climbed up the brick just below the roof of our two story house. We didn't realize that chipmunks could climb brick and cling for as long as needed (until the dog finally left the scene).

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Thank you,

Stephen & Brooksyne

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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