Psalm 127:1-2
How often do you pray about what you do at work? Do you ask God's guidance before undertaking a new project or accepting the next assignment? I've already posted about the Israelites' experiences when they didn't seek God. Psalm 127 provides an interesting perspective on this issue as well. "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain." Unless God is guiding your work, you are working in vain. Pretty sobering, isn't it? I know there have been more times than I can count when I've started a research project or began preparing for a class without seeking God first.
Look at verse two: "In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat." Do you ever feel like you're working harder and harder without seeing any payoff? Verse two finishes this way: "for He grants sleep to those He loves." God gives peace to those people who are seeking Him. Peace so that they can sleep at night. Peace so that they do not have to spend hours upon hours spinning their wheels.
Remember one of the faults of the people at Babel was that they were working for their own glory and not seeking God. If you feel like you're working harder and harder but not getting anywhere, ask yourself how often you are seeking God's direction at work. Ask whether God is guiding the work that you are doing. Don't labor in vain.
Showing posts with label Seeking God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seeking God. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Seeking God in Every Decision
Joshua 9:1-27
My wife and I were reading Gary Thomas’ book Sacred Parenting. One of Thomas’ points is to emphasize the need for parents to seek God as they are raising children. He cites the Gibeonites as an example of the dangers of not seeking God. The story is found in Joshua 9. Joshua and the Israelites are in the midst of their conquest of Canaan, and the other peoples in the area are fighting for survival. One such people came up with a trick. They wore old clothes and had old food, and convinced the Israelites that they had come from far away. They wanted a treaty with the Israelites. The Bible specifically says that, before making the treaty, the Israelites “did not inquire of the Lord.” Thomas’ point was that parents should be seeking God in their parenting decisions. What about at work? The lesson of the Gibeonites fits the workplace as well. When you’re faced with a decision at work, do you seek God or do you make your decision on your own? Even in small things, do you seek the Lord or go it alone? From all of the evidence that the Israelites had to go on, they were making the smart decision. It made sense. Have you been in a situation like that, where the “smart” decision turns out to be the wrong one? Seek God in your decisions, even the small ones. Don’t take a risk on a bad treaty.
My wife and I were reading Gary Thomas’ book Sacred Parenting. One of Thomas’ points is to emphasize the need for parents to seek God as they are raising children. He cites the Gibeonites as an example of the dangers of not seeking God. The story is found in Joshua 9. Joshua and the Israelites are in the midst of their conquest of Canaan, and the other peoples in the area are fighting for survival. One such people came up with a trick. They wore old clothes and had old food, and convinced the Israelites that they had come from far away. They wanted a treaty with the Israelites. The Bible specifically says that, before making the treaty, the Israelites “did not inquire of the Lord.” Thomas’ point was that parents should be seeking God in their parenting decisions. What about at work? The lesson of the Gibeonites fits the workplace as well. When you’re faced with a decision at work, do you seek God or do you make your decision on your own? Even in small things, do you seek the Lord or go it alone? From all of the evidence that the Israelites had to go on, they were making the smart decision. It made sense. Have you been in a situation like that, where the “smart” decision turns out to be the wrong one? Seek God in your decisions, even the small ones. Don’t take a risk on a bad treaty.
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