To some people, hard work might mean doing your part at a traditional job or having a physically or mentally demanding job and doing it well.
While these are correct in a way, they don't get into the core of what hard work truly is.
After I graduated with a business degree in 2021, instead of going full force into trying to get a job, I decided to sort of recover (college was not my thing) and be okay with staying at home with my family. I knew God was calling me to be a Christian author, but I really wasn't for sure what to do first.
God directed me, a little later, to start SWAGG, enroll for an online writing course, and build a community for my writing through social media. Over a year later, I still don't have an actual job.
Sometimes, I feel embarrassed to share this with people who ask about my job. It's just all around hard to see myself as hard working, but that is exactly what Satan wants.
When I don't see the tasks that I carry out as important as someone who has a paying job, I GET lazy - that's really when I'm not being a hard worker.
However, if I do my best, if I work at the task with all my heart, if I sacrifice something or refrain from indulging in selfish desires to do the task right, if I do it with a cheerful heart and without complaining - whatever task I'm doing - I'm being hardworking.
This includes playing hi-ho cherries with a niece (even when you're as tired as I look here lol), writing a devotional post, making progress in writing a novel, being the nominated birthday shopper for different members of the family, cooking dinner for the family, taking care of the family's pets, creating encouraging videos, and being a substitute teacher for a kid while their parents are working.
So, no matter what, whether you work a traditional job, are a stay at home mom, work in a great environment, have a tasking job, own your own business, are in ministry, or are building a career as an artist, YOU can be a hard worker!
Hard work isn’t an opinion, it’s not optional, and we can’t view it the way the world does. Instead, we have Ruth and the Proverbs 31 woman to show us what hard work is.
Ruth, in a short time of living in Israel, planned out how she could provide for Naomi and herself. After she thought out what she would do, she presented it to Naomi. Then, after getting her okay to go pick up dropped pieces of barley, she found a field to start at and asked for permission to be there. Ruth worked there from morning till evening, only stopping a couple of times to rest and eat. She didn’t get distracted, she didn’t steal, she didn’t demand any help. She was simply working hard to provide for her mother-in-law, and God blessed her with more than she could expect.
Three ways to grow in our work ethic are: One, come up with a plan for a task, receive wise advice, and then do it. In certain situations, we need to be the person that’s proactive and create a plan of action. Getting advice on what we’re planning to do is also an important step, and then we must follow through with it whole-heartedly. Two, work diligently and honestly while remembering our true purpose. A hard worker doesn’t look like one who’s distracted or manipulative. To avoid doing this, we need to remember our reason for working in the first place – to honor God. Three, do our part without dwelling on the outcome. The Proverbs 31 woman focuses on her tasks and then later sees their outcomes. We can do this too, as we trust in God to do the blessing, the saving, and the providing.
Here’s how not to apply hard work to your life: Focus on working for people or earthly gain – This limits the tasks you’ll value and, once you realize how unfulfilling this is, you’ll easily get burnt out. Instead, work for God and toward your heavenly reward. Complain – When you grumble about your work, Paul says you’re not working hard for you aren’t being a light for Jesus which is our first priority as a worker. Become a workaholic – God desires that you view work as a way to glorify Him while also realizing that you glorify Him just as much when you spend time resting with Him, cultivating relationships, or nourishing your body.
God’s Guidance:
Ruth 2:2-3 (NIV) – “And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.”
Ruth 2:4-7 (NIV) – “Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The Lord be with you!” “The Lord bless you!” they answered. Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young woman belong to?” The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.””
Ruth 2:14 (NIV) – “At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.” When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.”
Ruth 2:17-18 (NIV) – “So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.”
Colossians 3:22-24 (NIV) – “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Proverbs 31:13-22 (NIV) – “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.”
Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV) – “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”
Application:
1. Make an action plan with strategies and steps to help you achieve being a hard worker – pray about and over it
2. Write out Colossians 3:23-24 and put it on a desk or somewhere around the area you work in
3. Ask God to reveal to you how you could do your work with a more diligent and honest mindset
Strength Point:
Hard work is an opportunity we can take to strongly shine Jesus’ light out in our day to day lives.
Song of the Week:
Reflection Question:
What does hard work mean to you?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for giving me work to do. You know that my spirit and mind need projects and tasks to do. I’m sorry for not valuing the job or tasks You’ve placed me at because of __. God, I need Your assistance to change how I view my everyday work. Teach me to prioritize it in a healthy way, seeing it as important, but letting it never come before my relationships or You. Fill me with passion and motivation, so that I might get my work done timely, yet, do it right. When all I really want to do is complain or when I begin to get distracted, please bring my focus back to You. Remind me that, no matter my task, I’m truly doing it for You, the King of creation. Right now, __ is keeping me from being the hard worker You’re calling me to be. I ask You for the strength, endurance, and desire to overcome it. Thank You that You don’t stop working or moving in my life. I need You, I’m clinging to You today. I love You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for giving us work to do. You know that our spirits and minds need projects and tasks to do. Help my friend to not devalue the job or tasks You’ve placed them at because of comparison or burnout. God, please assist them in changing how they view their everyday work. Teach my friend to prioritize it in a healthy way, seeing it as important, but letting it never come before their relationships or You. Fill them with passion and motivation, so that they might get their work done timely, yet, do it right. When all my friend really wants to do is complain or when they begin to get distracted, please bring their focus back to You. Remind them that, no matter the task, they’re truly doing it for You, the King of creation. Right now, give my friend the strength, endurance, and desire to overcome whatever might be keeping them from being the hard worker You’re calling them to be. Thank You that You don’t stop working or moving in our lives. We need You, God. I love You, Lord! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
March is Women’s History Month! Celebrate with us by following these great women content creators – Hills of hope, Hailey Julia, My Unphotoshopped life, Boldly Flourish, Ariel Fitz, Cleerly Stated.
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