Workin' For A Livin'

Do you have a job? Have you been designated as "essential" by our government? During the week of April 19-25, nearly 30 million Americans filed for unemployment. So what do we do if we find ourselves without a job? How do we put food on the table?

It's interesting the types of jobs deemed "essential" in our country. Garbage collectors are "essential" while religious services are not. You can't cut peoples hair but you can perform an abortion. What do we do if we've lost our job and nobody's hiring?

The Bible is pretty clear about how things "worked" 2,000 years ago. You don't work, you don't eat.

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good." - 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13

These days we have unemployment compensation, social security, disability income. But what would we, or could we, do to earn some cash if all we had was our abilities or our physical strength?

Interesting question. I look at myself and wonder what it is that I, on my own, could do to buy food and to pay my taxes? Answers are few and as hard to come by as a job.

I write stories but no one would pay money to read them. I could mow somebody's lawn I guess but I live five miles out of town. I could hunt and fish to put food in my belly but how do I get actual cash?

Think about it. How would we actually survive? The Bible tells us what to do. Or what NOT to do.

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." - Matthew 6:31-34

We read that and say, "Yeah, that's nice but I need to eat. My baby needs diapers." No! Read those verses again. The first sentence is a command by Jesus telling us "do not worry!" He actually says it twice.

Yeah, but.

NO! God will provide!! What we are lacking is patience, not a job. We lack faith, not food. That's a hard thing to stomach right now but it's true. Yes, look for a job. And look with open eyes. Well, there is a farmer down then road. He's hiring. Maybe he needs someone to drive the tractor. Look around!

A friend of mine lost her job. What is she doing? Making masks for people. Another friend of mine was looking for some puzzles. She also was out of work - a waitress. I took her some puzzles. She gave me some strawberry jam. God will provide. "O, ye of little faith."

PRAY!!

Workin' For A Livin' - Huey Lewis and Garth Brooks

Do You Like Payday?

Who doesn't like payday, right? All of a sudden, a couple days a month become extra special days because someone gives us money. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars! And it's not so much the amount of money we get. It's just the plain and simple fact that SOMEONE IS GIVING US MONEY!!

Do you love money? I think most people do. Do you enjoy the feel of money in your pocket? Do you play with coins like they're poker chips? Do you arrange your paper money so it all faces the same direction, fold it nicely and put it into your wallet, purse or pocket?

The Bible tells us that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Money itself is not bad. However, it is the LOVE of money that is.

I just read a story of two young friends of mine who thought it was somehow okay to steal some things, sell them and use the money to buy things they wanted. In their case, the love of money got them into trouble. LOTS of trouble.

Have you ever been given something that's NOT money? I'm not talking about the socks you got for Christmas. I am talking about something beyond the concept of money or necessary usefulness like those socks. I'm thinking about something that's actually worth MORE than money itself. Something that's . . . priceless?

A pastor friend of mine recently baptized several people in Lake Michigan. Pictures of the baptisms were posted on Facebook. One of the comments read, "Payday!" That is SO true. Our salvation is something priceless that we receive from God, a gift, when we place our faith in Him.

The other day I was on Facebook. I usually cruise through the news feed looking for friends who might need help or prayer. A message popped up from a young friend of mine who wanted to talk. Last night we met and shared stories from our lives. At the end of our time together we prayed together. On my way home I smiled and thought . . . payday! I was just given a blessing from God. :)

I absolutely LOVE helping others. Money means little these days, just a means to an end. But helping someone in need, helping someone who is hurting or in need of prayer, comes with a much larger reward than cash.

If we truly love God and are obedient to Him and His will, God WILL reward us. Not with money but with opportunities to share God's love with others. The "reward" we seek should NOT be monetary but in seeing God honored . . . seeing HIM get the glory and not ourselves. In so doing, we WILL get paid alright. Through His many blessings. Have a happy and prosperous payday . . . all in the name of Jesus!

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

Money - Pink Floyd 
Child Poverty - Compassion International

Payday

Everyone loves payday. No, not the candybar, when we get rewarded for a job well done. It feels good to work hard and get paid for it. It's even better to work hard at something we really enjoy and then have people give us money for doing what we love!

Look at professional athletes for example. They get paid millions of dollars for just playing games!! It doesn't get much better than that!!! Musicians are another example. They really love to play their instruments and, to them, getting paid is actually a bonus. That's cool!

Do you love your job? Or maybe this would be a better question to ask . . . Do you love your job enough that you would do it for free? Oooo. That's a little bit tough! We all need money for house payments and car payments and food and heat and electricity. We all need to make SOME money!

If money was no object and you didn't have to worry about bills or food or taxes, what would you do? Would you still be content washing dishes or fixing cars? Would you still do what you are doing now? My guess is that many of us would say no. We would rather be doing something else.

So what do you LIKE to do? Do you like to write like me? Maybe you like to draw or play guitar. Maybe you like to sew or to build things. Maybe it's playing video games or surfing the Internet. Would you be able do what you like for 40 hours a week? If you could, would you?

One of the things I like doing most is talking about Jesus. I like to write about Him too. That is the whole purpose of this blog. But what do YOU like to do? What gifts and talents has God given you?

There is a lady where I work who likes to draw, yet she spends all of her time typing specifications and letters. Boring!! She has given up the enjoyment she finds in drawing things for other pursuits. That, to me, is sad. Yes she needs to pay the bills but I also thing she is missing out on some real enjoyment by setting aside one of her passions, one of the abilities that God has gifted her with.

This past weekend I was gifted with three opportunities to use what God has gifted ME with - compassion and exhortation - and let me tell you, I have never felt more blessed or more used in my life!

There is great satisfaction to be found in using our gifts and talents for God's glory. There is nothing quite like serving a loving King selflessly, without thought of payment. It is during times like those that we often receive our biggest paychecks.

A lady once came up to me at church and told me how she appreciated what I was doing by speaking into her son's life - listening to her son's struggles and offering advice. That meant a lot to her and made me feel good inside. After the conversation with this kid's mom ended I leaned over to a nearby friend and said, "I just got paid."

Payday for me comes in the knowledge that I have served someone and done so in a God-honoring way. I do not seek any "payday" but I know that God blesses His children in ways that are priceless. As one of my friends at another church says, "The pay sucks but the benefits are out of this world!"

Ain't that the truth!

This week I encourage you to examine your gifts, the ones given to you by God. He gave them to you for a reason. He gave them to you so you could use them, for His glory. Honor Him in all that you do and you will be surprised at the size of your paycheck. It will be heavenly for sure!!!

"23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24