BLESSED IN YOUR WORK

“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it…” – Psalm 127:1a

When as a believer in Christ, you fear the LORD and walk in His Word; you’ll be BLESSED in your WORK: “When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” (Psa.128: 2). To be blessed at work could relate to one or more contexts, including being blessed in your education, career, employment, vocation, profession, business, entrepreneurship, or ministry. It means finding fulfilment in your life’s entire endeavour, and having your needs provided for. God’s promise to bless our work is especially striking when we remember that God put a curse upon human work and labor after Adam and Eve sinned back in Genesis. His plan from the beginning was for us to enjoy the fruit of our work: “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it” (Gen.2:15). That was His plan from the start.

Work is an integral part of God’s purpose for humanity; not a consequence of Adam’s fall. The fall only turned work into toil. Today, work is like a curse for many, who labor in vain. In God’s economy, we are designed to enjoy work and be well rewarded. None of those whom God called was sitting around idle. The shepherds were tending their flocks by night when the great light shone out to proclaim Jesus’ birth (Lk.2:8). Moses was tending sheep when God called to become Israel’s Deliverer (Exo.3:1-2). Work can be fun as we engage in it devotedly, as we give every assignment our best shot in order for it to deliver its best results and rewards to us.

Before Adam and Eve sinned they worked the garden and knew God’s blessing on their work. It was good work with good rewards. The entrance of the serpent, disobedience, and the fall however brought the curse of human toiling and sweating: “Cursed is the ground you’re your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Gen.3:17b). That’s why without God work becomes toil: “Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows…” (Psa.127:1-2a). Hardly can one find true blessing or satisfaction at work apart from God: “There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, was from the hand of God” (Eccl.2:24).

Too often in life we work hard but we still don’t seem to be getting anywhere. Is it because we are not fearing God and walking in His ways? It is certainly something to consider. The prophet Haggai in the Old Testament warned the Jews who returned to Jerusalem: “Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes” (Hag.1:5-6). The Jess were working hard but not getting anywhere. That is the opposite of the blessing God offers to those who fear him and walk in His ways.

It is however vital to note that to be blessed at work doesn’t necessarily imply becoming materially rich and wealthy, although that is not also excluded. Rather, it means that you will find fulfilment in your work and that your work will provide for your needs. Many are engaged in jobs from which they derive no satisfaction; working for mere survival or sustenance. The blessed work is divinely rewarded with delight, enjoyment, fulfilment, productivity, and satisfaction.