Many benefits come with being a believer. The top of the list being that we get to enjoy eternal life with God. In believing in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we also become partakers of the promise that we will rise, never to die again after this life is done.

1 John 5:11

New King James Version

11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

As amazing as it is, this isn’t the only benefit. The scriptures and the lives of believers are a testament to the fact that we enjoy grace and favor in everything we do.

Grace, as many theologians have described it, is unmerited favor. This means partaking or benefiting from what we may not deserve at a time.

A common example is getting a high-paying job or position when your certificates don’t yet qualify for such a level. It can also be that you get access to networks you otherwise would have never dreamed of.

This grace abounds in the life of a believer but we must be careful to not fold our hands and expect that favor alone is all we need.

It is easy to assume that there is no need to put in work once you start to experience favor but this assumption is incorrect.

The Bible is replete with instructions for the believer to work, and to work hard in everything we do. This applies both when we receive favor from God and when that favor isn’t present.

Proverbs 14:23

New King James Version

23 In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty.

God has set laws and principles that govern the earth and the affairs of men and hard work is one of those principles. It is for this reason that people who are not believers can work and see abundant rewards from their labor. Using this knowledge, they go ahead to make advancements in technology, medicine, and other fields that leave a lasting impact while benefiting wealth and prosperity from it.

Like a formula, this same principle can be applied to the life of the believer. We must perish the mindset that everything we get must be handed to us strictly from experiences of favor.

Let’s look at Paul, an Apostle of Christ who had many feats for God in His life.

Acts 18:3

New King James Version

3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.

Paul was a tentmaker. One would assume that he would expect favor to carry him all through since he was an apostle. On the contrary, he worked with his hands and even encouraged churches to do the same.

II Thessalonians 3:10-12

New King James Version

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

Going as far back as the Old Testament, the story is the same. Let us consider King David. Before becoming king, David was a shepherd. After being anointed, he did not abandon all and sought the fame and riches of his position. Instead, he continued to work.

He was a musician, a soldier and so much more. One thing with David was that you would always find him working.

From all that the scriptures show us, we can learn two things about hard work

1. Don’t be idle – There is a popular saying, “The idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. This stands true. Always find yourself engaged in doing work. Whether you are employed, in between jobs, or even a student. Occupy your hands with work. Learn a skill, improve the skills you have and always have a positive mindset towards working.
2. Work diligently – David didn’t just work multiple jobs in his life, he was excellent at all of them. As we learned in yesterday’s devotional, excellence must be the standard in all we do. It does not matter if it is cleaning offices or building multi-million dollar products. We must approach all work with the same mindset.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

New King James Version

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

Prayer Point:

From today, I learn to give myself to working hard. Slothfulness is far from me! I do everything with diligence in every situation so that I please God.