Toil for What
Man has been given Radah (Dominion and Stewardship) of the world. But growing up on Earth, we spend many years learning about the world’s systems and inadvertently cast a shadow over the purpose and understanding of life. So, when we face trials and seek understanding we find ourselves in the counsel of the world. Being accustomed in sayings like “hard work pays off” coupled with the lust of the eyes, flesh, and pride of life we feel the need to work long hours, stretching ourselves thin, carrying the burden of provision, and sacrificially providing for the ones we love without questioning the stress we constantly find ourselves in.
Especially men, we toil, we pray, then toil some more. In all this, with the best of intentions, we strive to the point of exhaustion, compounding hardship, to find ourselves quoting the Preacher, “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.”
So, in all our striving and anxious living let us remember how God answered Job, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”
Let’s also consider the Psalmist who knew, and love God wrote, Raphah, (Be still!). Cease striving, let go, relax, or drop your weapons! Being still is not a call to freeze but to be calm and have a restful heart. A heart posture only found in knowing God. The God who has understanding. The Sovereign God who spoke everything into existence. The God who made the Sabath for man so we can rest in Him.
Also receive the words as the Church of Philippi have, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
As men, let us humble ourselves before the Lord and remember that he is the Source of our provision and that it is better to depend on Him and not the grind of our toiling. Recall the words of Christ, recorded in Matthew, “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Christ continues to explain, "But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!"
After the example of God’s provision, Christ followed with a command, "Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you." I believe this is a restated command from the beginning. In the garden, Eden, the place of God’s presence where man was placed. Man was called to cultivate paradise, the holy task of keeping God’s kingdom.
Let us not focus on the roaring noise of our circumstances, consequently, forgetting the power of our God but remember “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” So work, rest, and remember God is in control.
