Today’s Devotion
Topic: Work and Happiness
Text: Ecclesiastics 5:18 – 19
- Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him–for this is his lot.
- Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work–this is a gift of God. Amen
Before God drove Adam and his wife, Eve, from the Garden of Eden, He said to Adam “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life” – Genesis 3:17.
From the time of Adam till now, man has had to toil at something in one way or the other before getting food to eat. The anxieties of work comes the very moment we wake up each morning. All our wishes and hopes for the day rush at us like wild animals.
We spring from bed, dash to the shower, run out of the house but bring little returns home. In the end, the little we even make are enjoyed by others and unforseen liabilities.
Many have switched jobs with increased benefits but still lack the happiness they anticipated. Likewise, many have gotten the wealth and power they craved for, but still worry and cry at night.
All the above is simple due to the fact that, the job satisfaction we badly desire is not automatically embedded in the job we do, even if it is our dream job or something we are most skilful at. Job satisfaction and the ability to enjoy the fruit of one’s toil, is but “a gift from God”.
It’s a special grace God gives no matter where you are on the occupational ladder. A cleaner may be very satisfied with his/her job because he/she is gifted by God with some inner joy, peace and a great hope that tomorrow will definitely be better than today. A CEO on the otherhand, may have it all but lack this gift from God. Tormented by fear of failure and anxiety, he may work excellently anyway but still remain very dissatisfied.
So beloved, the next time you pray about your job or schooling, also pray for the gift of God that gives satisfaction and peace for all your labour and toil.
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