June 8

We labor diligently for ourselves and for those we love. This is laudable. We apply ourselves most heartily to those tasks we enjoy doing. This is understandable. In Genesis 29, the Bible tells of Jacob who worked for seven years to attain Rachel as his bride. When her father insisted he marry her older sister Leah first, Jacob gladly worked another seven years to marry the woman he loved.

We are a lot like Jacob who worked hard to gain the object of his heart’s passion. What is the passion of our hearts? Do we labor for worldly gain that shall fade away sooner than we can imagine? Do we labor in order to lay up treasure for our progeny when we don’t really know if tomorrow will come for us or for them?

In Colossians 3:23-24, we are told exactly what it is that should motivate our labor. It says, “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it all as unto the Lord and not for men, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the inheritance which is your true reward.”

When we realize we are laboring in the Lord’s behalf—representing Him to everyone who recognizes our commitment to Jesus and observes our diligence to the tasks before us—we will perform to the utmost of our ability because our goal is not to aggrandize ourselves but to attain the delight of the One we love, to receive Jesus’ approval.