Key Scripture:

“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil – this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Devotional:

It is God’s gift to us that we can spend our lives on this earth being productive, fruitful and multiplying. But in Genesis 3:17 the ground became cursed, and work became difficult. God is a good Father who wants the best for His kids, but He is also a just Father who must punish sin. We know that His plan was and is for us to enjoy this world; to be happy and find joy in all that He has created. He still wants this for us today. 

Instead of spending our lives enjoying what God has created for us, we spend our lives obsessed with productivity. We have become work-driven people who are more concerned with what we are doing than how we are doing. The world around us says to work harder and buy more things and this will give us joy. But true joy can only come from Jesus. The reasons why we were created are to know Him, love Him and have a relationship with Him. This is what Jesus wants from us. 

When we stop and look through the eyes of our children, that is all they are really wanting from us as well. They want to know they are delighted in. They want to be loved and know that we want a relationship with them. Every parent knows the feeling of walking through the door after a long day at work to have your little one run up to you and tackle your legs. What joy they exude just because you are home, and they have missed you!

What if we went to work with that same joy, remembering that work is a gift from God and He wants you to delight in it just as He delights in you? Then, instead of our kids hearing us grumble about a hard day, we come home and praise the Lord because He has given us work to do each day. It sure would be much more fun to crack open a bottle of coke, or pour a tall glass of sweet tea and recount the days as successes with our kids, reminding them that God has chosen to use us that day.

Questions for Reflection:

• How can we find joy and contentment in our work, recognizing that it is a gift from God?
• How do you find satisfaction in your toil as a parent? In what ways do you delight in your child?