Are You Laboring for Nothing?

Are You Laboring for Nothing?

It was the last day of the month – the day the monthly wages are to be paid.  The Labour Officer was given the unpleasant task of announcing to the waiting workers that their wages will be delayed because of a cash flow shortage in the factory. After working hard, any worker will expect to be rewarded with his rightful wages. The disappointment soon engulfed them as they turned emotional; some expressing their anger against the management’s failure and others crying hopelessly not knowing how they will explain the situation to their family.

Prophet Isaiah almost gave up his ministry, since he was discouraged.  He said “I have laboured for nothing” – preaching and teaching Israel for many years did not yield the result of repentance.  God intervened to reward Him by affirming His calling and expanding his commission to even preach beyond Israel as a light to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 49: 1-6)

Apostle Paul writing to the church at Philippi expressed his hope that they will shine like stars in a warped and crooked generation as the children of God, blameless, pure and without fault. His ministry to the Philippians was like an outpouring of a drink offering on the sacrifice.  Paul’s reward was to boast in the presence of God that he did not labour for nothing. (Philippians 2:14-18)

Reward is often the motivation for our hard work.  But money is not the only reward that meets our need. Rewards like appreciation, gratitude, affirmation and encouragement helps a hard worker to receive self-dignity, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-fulfilment. These rewards come from God himself not human beings. Both Isaiah and Paul looked to God for their rewards.

Parents nourish their children that they may grow into a mature adult.  Teachers teach students that they will excel in their academics.  Their reward is not just money but a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.  The preacher says it is good to find satisfaction in our hard work (Eccl 5:18). He also says that his reward was the delight in his heart that he found in his labour (Eccl 2:10).  May we be rewarded with such delight by God in our hard work of parenting, teaching, working and serving and find satisfaction in it!  John Amalraj