Hard Work/ Work Ethic – Page 3

Here’s to the Cooks.

We elevate religious leaders. But the preacher is not a different breed. My childhood pastor was a gifted orator and a man with nearly irresistible leadership qualities. Yet, he was humble and chose to be called “Brother John”—an equal. Preachers, elders, and priests are your equals. So are doctors, lawyers, bankers, statemen. But you knowContinue reading “Here’s to the Cooks.”

ARE YOU A ‘MAKER’? God Uses Artists, Craftsmen, Designers, Engineers, Mechanics, and Hobbyists.

Pictured: Jesus showing his mother Mary a table he built, a scene from the film THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. I once asked my father, “Daddy, are you a people person, an idea person, or a thing person?” There was a pause while he looked up from the model airplane he was building. “I don’tContinue reading “ARE YOU A ‘MAKER’? God Uses Artists, Craftsmen, Designers, Engineers, Mechanics, and Hobbyists.”

Put Your Heart Into Your Work.

When Moses needed men to build the tabernacle, God brought men with skill AND passion. They had a CALLING. We have many skills, but few callings. That is, you may be good at several things. But your heart will lead you to the one that is right for you. Of course, your heart can getContinue reading “Put Your Heart Into Your Work.”

WORK. Exodus 26.

I heard an interesting conversation on DOWNTON ABBEY. The new heir, a distant cousin from the city who is not used to being waited on, talks to Lord Grantham, suggesting he does not need servants. “Perhaps not. But would you take from a man the dignity of his work? Would you cast the cooks andContinue reading “WORK. Exodus 26.”

God is Not a Cruel Taskmaster.

Long ago I was warned “the law is a jealous mistress.” It’s true: lawyering can consume your life. I know lawyers who work seven days a week and never take vacations. Things could be worse. Millions in Asia work 16-hour days in sweatshops for a few dollars a day. Prisoners in communist nations suffer terribly. Continue reading “God is Not a Cruel Taskmaster.”

Busy & Rich or Lazy & Poor? Try Moderation.

Some are obsessed with accumulating wealth. Others seem determined to do as little as possible. God wants a balance. We work for God—and we rest for God. He should be our focus. When the Israelites left Egypt and marched into the desert, they composed the largest exodus in history—between 1 and 5 million people! ImagineContinue reading “Busy & Rich or Lazy & Poor? Try Moderation.”

Time Flies When You’re Working Hard.

Imagine sitting in a dungeon all day, nothing to do, nothing to read, no one to talk to. Time crawls. Joseph was sold into slavery at 17. He served Potiphar, was falsely accused, spent years in prison, then was elevated to second-in-command of Egypt. But Joseph had never stopped working. God did not send himContinue reading “Time Flies When You’re Working Hard.”

Repeating a Pattern.

When the Bible repeats a pattern, that means it is important. Here’s one repeated within just a few pages–a single generation. When Jacob needs a wife, he travels to the land of Laban, and sees the shepherdess Rachel coming with a herd of sheep. So what does he do? While he was still speaking withContinue reading “Repeating a Pattern.”

Being the Right Person.

Someone once said, “Marriage is not so much FINDING the right person as BEING the right person.” That’s a timely word in a culture that views both marriage and careers as some magical romantic fantasy where the person or occupation perfectly fits your every trait, satisfies your every desire, and renders you blissfully happy foreverContinue reading “Being the Right Person.”

What Are You Looking for in a Spouse?

Just as AMERICAN IDOL spawned a genre of TV talent contests, the BACHELOR birthed a litter of marriage contests. What traits are these contestants looking for in the opposite sex? Appearance, chemistry, and a sense of humor probably top the list, along with ambition, success, and money. Abraham and Isaac looked at marriage differently. AbrahamContinue reading “What Are You Looking for in a Spouse?”