Grace for Every Season

08/01/22 – 08/04/22

When You Work for the Lord

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  08/01/22

Read Genesis 30:25-43.

The word prosperity often has a bad connotation today. When we think of prosperity, we frequently associate it with the prosperity gospel—a false gospel that entices people with promises of wealth and material possessions. Of course, if someone bends their knee to Jesus in order to receive money, then money is their god, not Jesus. And there is no greater tragedy than for a person to neglect the true riches of heaven for the poverty of financial security in this life alone.

With that said, we need to understand that prosperity is a Biblical word. God does, at times, prosper His people with financial and material blessings. He prospered Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3, 7). He prospered the Israelites (see Acts 13:17). He prospered King David and King Solomon (see 1 Samuel 18:14, 1 Kings 3:11-14). And God also prospered young Jacob.

If you recall, Jacob had gone to work for his uncle Laban. Laban didn’t treat Jacob fairly. He tricked his nephew and cheated him. It certainly wasn’t Laban’s intention to make Jacob wealthy. Nevertheless, Jacob prospered despite Laban’s attempted manipulation. You see, his success was supernatural. Jacob knew he wasn’t really working for Laban—he was working for God.

Regardless of who your earthly boss might be, you must realize that all your work is actually in service to God (see Colossians 3:23). He is the one who’s watching you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and He is the one who will reward your faithfulness. Jacob discovered this amazing Truth—and it set him free. Jacob knew that God would be the one to bless him, not his uncle Laban. So Jacob consciously and consistently devoted himself and his work to the Lord.

There’s a lesson in that for all of us: Do more than is required of you, and one way or another, you will be blessed. You will be rewarded. Even when your efforts seem unappreciated and unseen, know that God both sees and is pleased by your efforts to honor Him. When your own prosperity is not your all-consuming focus, sooner or later God will prosper and reward your faithfulness. At the same time, when you are a faithful and diligent worker, even the pagans will eventually take notice. It’s one of the ways you can be salt and light in this world (see Matthew 5:13-16). Our faithful work is a witness to a dark world of the grace of God at work in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember that all my work is in service to You and that You have called me to each task for a reason and for good. I ask Your blessing upon my mind, my mouth, my hands, and my feet to serve in drawing lost souls to Your Kingdom for Your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys” (Genesis 30:43).