God Gives Both Work and Joy
«And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.»
«But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.»
The connection
What the Preacher recognises as a gift from God in the here and now, Jesus takes a step further. He directs our gaze towards the Kingdom of God as the true source of all good gifts. When we place our trust in God, we can be assured of our daily bread and joy in our work, without worrying about the future.
Reflection
Yesterday, we considered how eating, drinking, and finding joy in our work is a gift from God. The Preacher identifies this as a fundamental truth about our lives. It's an invitation to embrace the present moment and to see God's goodness within it, rather than constantly striving for more, which can never truly satisfy us.
Yet, Jesus goes a step further. He frees us from the burden of worrying about tomorrow. He doesn't tell us to be idle, but to set our priorities straight: first, the Kingdom of God. This means aligning our lives with His values, seeking His love, and living out His righteousness. If we do this, He promises that everything else will be added to us.
This freedom from worry isn't naive indifference, but a deep trust. It's the realisation that we cannot, and indeed do not need to, control everything. God cares for us, day by day. This allows us to approach our work today with joy and to savour the small gifts of everyday life, without being paralysed by anxieties about the future. Each day has its challenges, but also its blessings.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for this new day and for the gifts You bestow upon me. Help me today not to fall into worry about tomorrow, but to place my complete trust in You. Show me how I can seek Your Kingdom first, in my work, my encounters, and my thoughts. Let me recognise the joy in my labour and in the small things of life, for they are Your gifts to me. Amen.
The thread
Having seen yesterday the joy in work as a gift from God, today we turn our attention to freedom from worry through trust in God's provision. Tomorrow, we will consider what truly matters when all is fleeting.
Trust today that God provides for you, and enjoy the gifts of the day.