LABORING UNDER THE SON

For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love

which you have shown toward His name. Hebrews 6:10a

King Solomon wrote much about labor in Ecclesiastes.  The theme of labor and toil (31 times) permeates it.  “Labor” means “to toil to the point of exhaustion.”  Here are some of Solomon’s complaints about “labors under the sun”:  What profit is it? (7:3); It’s not profitable! (2:11); I really hate it! (2:17-18); It’s a big pain! (2:22-23); There is no end to it! (4:8a); I can’t get ANY satisfaction. (4:8b); It all just goes down the tubes! (6:7); It is ALL in vain, vanity! (1:2); I can’t even take it with me when I die! (5:13-17). Does this describe how YOU feel about your work? 

To find God’s best in life, we must lift our eyes above the sun to God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ.  We find light at the end of the tunnel with needed spiritual truth hidden amongst the complaining.  The bad news is that man has really messed things up.  “There is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins” (7:20).  Furthermore, “God will bring every work to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (12:14).  Fortunately there is good news.  First, we all have an inner desire for more than this earthly life as God has “set eternity in their heart“(3:11).  Secondly, God desires to deliver and free us from life’s futile treadmill if we will but seek Him: “Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may prolong his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God” (8:12). 

Our labors will have real meaning as we seek to please, glorify and serve the Lord and not ourselves (1 Corinthians 10:31; 15:58).  Hopefully someday He will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful slave” (Matthew 25:21, 23)!  What will your labor amount to under the SON?

Bob Kulp