Your Work is Important

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:10

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Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV 1900

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Sometimes the Preacher or a speaker in Ecclesiastes, puts me in mind of an Eeyore type personality.

Psychologists have spent many hours analyzing A. A. Milne’s characters from House at Pooh Corner. Each character corresponds to different personality types.

Eeyore’s personality type has been described as, “glum. sarcastic, and pessimistic and has trouble getting himself organized. When he does try to do something it usually is a half-hearted attempt. He is slow-talking and more cautious than some of the others and is often reluctant to go along with their actions, but usually does not bother trying to oppose anyone because he believes it is futile to try. “

One of my favorite quotes from Eeyore in Milne’s book would be his philosophy about rain. His personality really bleeds through.

He says, “The nicest thing about the rain is that it always stops. Eventually.”

Do you see this personality in the writer of Ecclesiastes?

He encourages the listener and reader to work hard to do their best, and then he gives his reason for saying so -

Ecc. 9:10 NIV Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

He is saying, work hard because soon you’re going to die and won’t be able to anymore.

That is quite the motivation for excellence in our work.

However, I believe there is a deeper meaning for us here tonight -

Your vocation or Christian service may seem measly, mediocre, or mundane but I want to show you the Biblical truth of the importance and value of your service to God.

Do Whatever your hand finds to do -

To do whatever your hand finds to do, therefore, is to give oneself to life with its joys and its responsibilities, according to one’s ability and circumstances. Life is to be active and energetic (with all your might), practical (thought means ‘device’, ‘stratagem’, ‘idea’), informed (knowledge) and skilful (wisdom). Such characteristics of the life of faith are possible only during a man’s lifetime. The emptiness of the pessimist’s life, if it finds no remedy, cannot be filled up in retrospect.

Michael A. Eaton, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 18, Tyndale Old

Excel at excellence - With all your might

Paul instructed the Colossian Christians to

Colossians 3:23 KJV 1900

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Martin Luther King, Jr, spoke at a Junior High School in Philadelphia October 1967 just six months before he was assassinated. During this speech he challenged those young people to excel at excellence:

If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.

Work to Worship - Giving glory to God

Let your works, living, life bring glory to God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 1900

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Matthew 5:16 KJV 1900

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

This might be a time to talk about Mom & Dad Akard’s awards at the school.

Work Great Even at the small stuff -

I was challenged recently when a read an oft skipped over passage in Numbers -

It is talking about the role of the Levites and others in the setup, break down, and transport of The Tabernacle. Two little verses grabbed my attention -

Numbers 3:36–37 KJV 1900

And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto, And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

How would you like to be known as the keeper of the pins, or the cord manager?

Someone had to do it and it was important stuff. Without it the Tabernacle wouldn’t be complete.

What you do is of extreme importance.

Craig Barnes tells how he preached the funeral for a man who had helped develop the famous Boeing 747 aircraft. After the service, I spoke with the widow and commented on how remarkable it was that her late husband had helped build that marvelous machine. She said, "The truth is, he worked on one little switchbox smaller than a loaf of bread. That's all he worked on for 15 years. But when that 747 lifted off the ground for the first time, it was the happiest day of his life."

He worked on one small switchbox for more than a decade. Yet the huge plane couldn't have lifted off without this man's contribution.

How bout it tonight - do you ever feel like what you do, the normal everyday humdrum, mundane, isn’t worth the effort?

I want you to know that God keeps a record and what you do is of extreme importance -

Often we see only our seemingly small efforts and feel we aren't very important. But when the great Kingdom of God "lifts off," we'll be thrilled to find out that all of our efforts were essential.

Your housekeeping, your cooking, your labor, your sweat, your stress, your non-enjoyable jobs - all have a great recompense of reward.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 KJV 1900

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.