Our society has a mentality of trying to get away with putting in as little as we can, but at the same time we want to get the most out of it for ourselves. We want the best price, i.e. we pay the least, so that we have more money for ourselves. As a young pastor, with four children, I have often worked financially below what would be called “the poverty line”.
During this time my family and I have learned to make do with little, we have learned to be content and happy with the little that we have had. We have had to fix and repair broken things when others would have thrown them out, we have appreciated hand-me-downs and shopped at the used goods stores – something was better than nothing. We have also learned the importance of a good work ethic, often taking on extra jobs so that bills could be paid, or so a desired perk could be obtained.
In the midst of scrounging to make it financially, I would often think of Paul’s words in Philippians 4:19, “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” I would hold onto this verse looking for the provision of God.
Well, I’m over 60 years old now and I can definitely proclaim that God has supplied, I have clothes to wear, food to eat and a roof over my head. However, during the times of financial challenge, I would meditate on the words of Jesus that “the labourer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7). In my mind I would contemplate how I should be getting paid more, because “I am working for God”.
But this verse is not just saying that if I labour then I’ll get my hire, but perhaps also that if my hire, I.e. my salary or wages is not sufficient, then perhaps it is because my labour has been insufficient. You see, it is not just that I need to be putting in the hours but that I am actually being productive. Am I actually doing the important things that enable me to really be worthy of my hire? Now I might be able to convince a not so observant supervisor that I am working well when I am not, but it is more difficult to convince the all-seeing and all-knowing God, unless I am actually working in a way that is worthy of my hire.
Lord, help me to work in a way that is pleasing to You.
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