The Joy of Work

Read: Genesis 1:26; 2:15; Psalm 128:1-2

“I’m outta here!” Micah dunked an old cleaning rag in the trash can and ran into the house.

Calvin looked around at his half of the garage, then at the other half that had been Micah’s responsibility to clean. What a difference! He knew Micah had worked a lot harder than he had. Now Micah was finished and could go to the ball game. Calvin scowled. He hated cleaning the garage!

By the time Calvin finished, the game had been going for an hour. “I’m done!” he called to his mother as he entered the house. “Will you take me to school so I can see the rest of the game?”

“No, Calvin. You should have been ready when I took Micah. I’m cooking dinner now.”

Calvin sighed. “What are you making?”

“Chicken tacos and lemon-garlic potatoes,” Mom replied.

“Yum!” Calvin’s mouth watered as he thought about biting into a taco. “You make the best food. You must love to cook.”

Mom shrugged. “Not always—it can be hard, messy work sometimes. But I do it because I want to provide you and Micah and Dad with healthy food that you enjoy.”

Calvin was surprised. “I sure wouldn’t do all that work if I didn’t have to!”

“Calvin,” Mom said, “did you know that work is part of God’s loving plan for us?”

“No,” Calvin muttered. “I kind of figured work was more like God’s way of punishing us.”

Mom shook her head. “Work is a good thing. The first thing God did after He created Adam and Eve was give them work to do. It was the curse of sin that made work difficult, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find joy and satisfaction in our work.”

“How do we do that?” asked Calvin.

“By remembering that God has done the most important work of all. Jesus saved us by dying for our sins, and God is working in our lives to make us more like Him—and that means the work we do is important. He uses it to help us learn and grow and show others who He is.”

“He does?” Calvin smiled. “I guess work isn’t so bad after all.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that.” Mom handed him a bowl. “Because I could really use some help peeling potatoes!”

–Agnes Livezey

How about you? Do you hate work? Do you complain about it or avoid doing it? God created work to be a good thing, but when sin entered the world, work became difficult. The good news is that because Jesus did the most difficult work of all—dying for our sins—we can find joy in our work. Even when you have to do things that seem boring or unimportant, do them for Jesus, knowing He’ll use your efforts for good.

Today's Key Verse: Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people. Colossians 3:23 (CSB)

Today's Key Thought: Find joy in work