Since work tends to be difficult, and is often frustrating, we can wrongly conclude that work itself is more of a curse than a blessing.
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.”
Genesis 3:17-18
It is important to note that God did not curse Adam, nor did God pronounce work itself to be a curse. Rather, God cursed the ground because of Adam’s sin, meaning that work from then on would be much more difficult. The truth is that work is a wonderful blessing of God that was built into the original pre-fall creation and it is a blessing we will enjoy forever in the new heaven and new earth.
Check out this excellent episode from Jordan Raynor’s podcast, Mere Christians. Pastor JP Pokluda shares his definition of calling and why it’s not just for pastors and missionaries, but is for every Christian, everywhere. If you haven’t seen Jordan’s book Called to Create, you should check it out. He helps the everyday believer apply Biblical principles of faith, work and calling to our lives. Review this four part series on work to see both the gift and struggle of work plus the call to work and to rest.
This Sunday (5/14/23) we will study Isaiah 45 – a fascinating prophecy about a future king (to Isaiah) named Cyrus.
“Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: ‘I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.'”
Isaiah 45:1-2
Cyrus is called “the Lord’s anointed,” – in Hebrew “Messiah,” – a title otherwise reserved only for Jewish prophets, priests or kings. But the Lord created, called and empowered this Persian King to accomplish specific purposes – including enabling the return of the Jews to their own land.
At least 142 years separated the prophet Isaiah from this future non-Jewish ruler. God enabled Isaiah to see past the reigns of both Assyria and Babylon to a new kingdom with a uniquely empowering king who would reverse the policy of all who came before him and allow captives to go home. Click here for more on the history.
The point for our purposes this week is to praise the Lord for the many people around us that He appoints and anoints for our good. Think about doctors, nurses and medical staff; teachers, helpers, administrators; police, firefighters, first responders and military personnel; civic leaders, journalists, entertainers… the list is endless!
God appointed and anointed Cyrus of Persia to bless the Jewish people – and, remarkably, the non-believing king did as the Lord directed him. Consider the people God has placed in your life and first thank Him for how they bless you and then also make an effort to thank them for how they have made your life better.
Work matters! Your work matters to many people. And their work matters to you!