Working Toward Blessing

Ephesians 4: 22

Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.

Likely most of us think our labor is meant to meet our own needs. That is not, however, what God thinks. We need to make a radical departure from our thought process and get in agreement with the Lord, our God.

We have been trained by the world to think that it is our job to work and meet our own needs. If you can read today’s verse with fresh eyes you will see that our labor is meant to meet the needs of others. Our paychecks are seeds which we so into the Kingdom of God by sharing with those who have need. Our needs are met by God through our giving. “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4: 19).

In order to understand Philippians 4: 19 you have to read the passages surrounding it. Verse 19 is Paul’s response for the gifts which had been bestowed upon him. He was conveying to those who sent the gifts that because they had given to him, God would give to them. They met Paul’s needs so God was going to abundantly meet their needs. So our met needs are in our seeds. Our giving determines what we receive. 

When we consume all of our paycheck week to week, it is like we are stealing. God said to labor so that we might have something to share. We have to ask ourselves, “What are we sharing?” A farmer who reaps his harvest and eats all of the crop will not farm long. A portion of that crop is seed for next year’s harvest.

Look at your labor in a new way today. Get a new perspective on your job. God has riches stored in Christ Jesus that He longs to pour out on each one of us. It is literally a harvest of abundance. Now you know where to get the seed.