The Reward of Diligent Work

 

by Barbara Latta

Labor Day is a holiday observed in the United States to give workers an opportunity be recognized for
their labor and productivity.

God has a lot to say about work and rest. He instructs us in His Word to observe a day of rest every seven days. He rested because He was finished with His work. We need to rest to replenish bodies and minds.

He also shows us how diligent work is rewarded. Slothfulness does not glorify God and neither does running our bodies and minds into exhaustion. We should live a balanced life between work, rest and play. Dealing with COVID19 this year has caused many changes to the work schedule of thousands of people. Thankfully, businesses, schools and restaurants are open again and work can return to as normal as we can get it now.

Here are a few scriptures regarding work and rest. These are all taken from the New American Standard Bible translation.

Words for the Work Week

When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you (Psalm 128:2).

He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense (Proverbs 12:11).

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, and the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him (Proverbs 12:14).

 In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23).

 I have seen that nothing is better that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him? (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; yes, confirm the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17).

 When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you (Psalm 90:2).

 Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal (John 6:27).

In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

 And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men (Proverbs 22:29).

 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance it is the Lord Christ whom you serve (Colossians 3:23).

 The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor (Proverbs 12:24).

I hope this list of scriptures will encourage and inspire you as you return to work or school. God blesses what we put our hand to as long as we put Him first.

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Words for the workweek - scriptures to encourage diligent work (click to tweet)