Daily Devotional

In 2 Thessalonians Paul writes, "if any man would not work, neither should he eat." What King Solomon paints in Proverbs though goes beyond the words of Paul.

Solomon paints a picture of a banquet. And at any banquet, no way is somebody going to help feed you. A slothful man hides his hand in his bosom — the bosom here talks about a deep bowl. So the picture painted here is of a man so lazy that he is not even prepared to get his hand to his mouth.

He would rather starve than to get that hand working. This seems a bit intense, and you may sit there wondering, "I am not a slothful person. Trust me ... I eat enough every day."

In Romans 12 we read, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit."

What Paul speaks of here is you doing your work to the best of your ability. What Paul was saying is that God has blessed you with that job you have right now and, just as God gave His very best as a ransom for you and for me, we too should give our very best into what God has blessed us with.

How are you spending your time in the workplace? Are you too lazy or demotivated to do anything? Do you feel like your job was not cut out for you? Well, it does not really matter what you are thinking at the moment. Ask yourself, "Have I done what God has asked me to do here? Do I even know what God wants me to do in my work environment? And am I doing it to the best of my ability?"

Today, review where you are spending your time. Are you giving your very best into everything you do? Or do you just go to work to go home again? Today, endeavour to give your employer your best and your mouth will be filled with the goodness of God.