God’s Word makes it truly clear that we are instructed to work hard and put our best effort forward.
Colossians 3:23 (NIV) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”
Proverbs 6:6-11 (MSG) “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two. Nobody has to tell it what to do. All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions. So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed? A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there, sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next? Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life, poverty your permanent houseguest!”
The ant’s social structure is one of note. They do everything together and hardly ever give up on whatever they are doing or called to do. They do not have any overseer yet undertake to work without any supervisor or task master. Every ant is self-motivated.
Are you an ant for the Lord? There’s more than enough work for each of us to fill our plate every day. And probably nobody is going to come up, tap you on the shoulder and ask you to do any of it.
Have you ever kicked over an ant hill? What do they do? Not a one of them stands off to the side saying, “I’m not doing that again.” Instead every ant goes into overdrive work mode. They work harder and faster than ever to rebuild what you destroyed. You cannot discourage ants. You cannot get ants to quit working. You can only get them to work harder.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT) “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
Our work is not in vain. God notices and remembers our hard work for Him.
Hebrews 6:10 (NLT) “For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.”
We will all be rewarded according to our deeds.
Revelation 22:12 (NLT) “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)”For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
Remember, we are saved for good works not by good works.
