*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*FLAVOR FOR LABOR.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Eccl 4:8 *There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
Eccl 1:8 *All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.*
*Scripture Commentaries.*
As much as we work hard to be rich, or we were born with a silver spoon, Solomon, who was gifted by God to prosper, says there is futility under the sun, Eccl 4:7.
Labor is often described as the basic work of man to earn a living. It is generally used as a symbol of industry for employment and any related commission of the workforce.
Labor can also be described as intense hardship, toiling, painful struggle, making strong and often weary efforts.
Everyone is involved in some labor or hard work.
No matter our vocations, we put in painstaking endeavors and work longer than expected, often with little or no sleep. The only difference is that the labor of a doctor is different from a construction worker.
So, while labor is a leveler, the compensation, benefits, conditions of service, etc, do vary from one individual to another.
Jesus' word tells us that labor is a strained and tasking endeavor.
Jesus gives no other meaning to labor by giving it a meaning of a hard, energy sapping effort common to man. According to the words of Jesus in Matt 11:28 *Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.*
Labour is well spelt out in Gen 3: when God said in Gen 3:17. *".....cursed is the ground for thy sake;...."*
That the land will bring *"....thorns and thistles..."*, and that *".....In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread...."* is the origin of labor, Gen 3: 18-19.
More troubling to Solomon is that those who are rich, after much labor, do not have enough sleep how much more the problem of who will inherit their riches, Eccl 2:21.
This is why we need God to spice all our labor with flavor.
There are people who work little but gain much even with respect, and there are those who walk hard yet earn little or nothing, not even respect for their labor.
There are people who die in their labor. There are people who survived, but the pain and agony they suffered while laboring in their early lives are still with them.
There are people who will labor for others to eat, John 4:38.
Remember to labor in order to profit a gift of God.
Only God adds flavor to labor.
He is the only one who crowns all our effort with favor.
Do not leave God out in your works of life.
He is willing to give you flavor for your labor.
*Remorse corner.*
Only God can turn our labor to favor
*Call to Word action.*
Solomon said, *".......I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:*
*I gathered me also silver and gold,..."*
*So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem....*
*".....I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.*
*Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Proverbs 10:22 *The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.*
*Prayer.*
Lord, add blessings and favor to my labour. Turn my labor to favor, in Jesus name.
Good morning all and be blessed as you come into His presence.
God bless you