Ecclesiastes 2:24
New Living Translation
24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.
Nothing is better for man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
The word His in the Hebrew transliteration is a word called nephesh
Transliteration: nephesh
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-fesh)
Definition: a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion
Why do I feel this is an important difference? The NLT translation doesn't include the word nephesh but it takes the scripture beyond just the physical. It takes us deeper into finding satisfaction within our work. We are taken into the soul of the matter.
God created mankind to work as evident in Genesis 2:15. But in Genesis 3:17 during the fall of man, mankind was cursed as our work on Earth would now be much more difficult. As bad as that is, it doesn't negate the soul connection.
Genesis 2:15
New International Version
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
God is always working. What about God resting on the 7th day? God rested from creation. Not from His redemptive will within the universe.
John 5:17
New International Version
17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
We as in mankind are created in God's image, His likeness, the soulish image of God not our physical bodies. God works within the universe, the difference between a theistic God vs deistic.
Genesis 1:26-27
New International Version
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Therefore the good attributes are found in us out of the likeness of design. We experience love, the need for justice, the sense of morality, the fulfillment when we accomplish good works.
Good works are targeted at the soul of others. These were prepared for the Christ-follower.
Ephesians 2:10
New International Version
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
To find fulfillment in whatever job it may be we need to change our perspective or as Romans 12:2 says to renew our minds so we can be transformed. We must be mission-minded and focused on God's will for our lives.
Romans 12:2
New International Version
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
"A job is a vocation only if someone else calls you to do it for them rather than for yourself. And so our work can be a calling only if it is remained as a mission of service to something beyond merely our own interests. Thinking of work mainly as a means of self-fulfillment and self-realization slowly crushes a person."
- Tim Keller
Probably if I had to guess, many of us do not find fulfillment in our day to day jobs if we are only focused on self-interests. Renew your mind starting with this statement.
"In all that I do, may it bring glory to God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
New International Version
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Asking yourself how can painting a turret upgun bring God glory? How can flipping burgers bring God glory? How can fixing cars bring God glory? How do we live out God's will for our lives in everything we do?
Stay in God's Word and follow the commands of Christ. You will be in God's will and work fulfillment will come through the soul not the physical.
Application starts today.
Our full-time jobs are actually our families. But our part-time job as in our careers or jobs that pull in income often mentally, physically, and spiritually drain us.
Meditate on God's Word before we start our day.
Before arriving at either job we must pray for peace, guidance, wisdom, and to be spiritually awakened.
Start to see your job as a mission field.
Practice asking yourself how can this task bring God glory.
Know your rights as an employee related to religious freedom. Paul used his rights as a Roman citizen to his advantage, so should we as citizens of our country.
American Federal law-
"Federal law, commonly referred to as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or Title VII,(1) prohibits most employers(2) and unions(3) from discriminating against their employees on the basis of religion.(4) Title VII applies to any employer having fifteen or more employees for each working day in each of the twenty or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year.(5) Other state or local laws may also prevent discrimination on the basis of religion and such laws may apply to employers with less than fifteen employees.(6)"
https://lc.org/religious-rights-in-the-workplace
For example in my state-
Georgia Constitution
Preamble:
"...we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution."
Article 1, Section 1,
Paragraph III. Freedom of conscience. Each person has the natural and inalienable right to worship God, each according to the dictates of that person's own conscience; and no human authority should, in any case, control or interfere with such right of conscience.
Paragraph IV. Religious opinions; freedom of religion. No inhabitant of this state shall be molested in person or property or be prohibited from holding any public office or trust on account of religious opinions; but the right of freedom of religion shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state.
https://law.justia.com/constitution/georgia/
This is essentially us equipping our armor and preparing for a successful mission each day. Victorious in the small battles will lead to the victory of the war. Satan and His demonic forces want to destroy your life. The war over your family, marriage, or your life as a disciple will be greatly influenced if we see the importance of our day to day calling.
New Living Translation
24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.
Nothing is better for man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.
The word His in the Hebrew transliteration is a word called nephesh
Transliteration: nephesh
Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-fesh)
Definition: a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion
Why do I feel this is an important difference? The NLT translation doesn't include the word nephesh but it takes the scripture beyond just the physical. It takes us deeper into finding satisfaction within our work. We are taken into the soul of the matter.
God created mankind to work as evident in Genesis 2:15. But in Genesis 3:17 during the fall of man, mankind was cursed as our work on Earth would now be much more difficult. As bad as that is, it doesn't negate the soul connection.
Genesis 2:15
New International Version
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
God is always working. What about God resting on the 7th day? God rested from creation. Not from His redemptive will within the universe.
John 5:17
New International Version
17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
We as in mankind are created in God's image, His likeness, the soulish image of God not our physical bodies. God works within the universe, the difference between a theistic God vs deistic.
Genesis 1:26-27
New International Version
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Therefore the good attributes are found in us out of the likeness of design. We experience love, the need for justice, the sense of morality, the fulfillment when we accomplish good works.
Good works are targeted at the soul of others. These were prepared for the Christ-follower.
Ephesians 2:10
New International Version
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
To find fulfillment in whatever job it may be we need to change our perspective or as Romans 12:2 says to renew our minds so we can be transformed. We must be mission-minded and focused on God's will for our lives.
Romans 12:2
New International Version
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
"A job is a vocation only if someone else calls you to do it for them rather than for yourself. And so our work can be a calling only if it is remained as a mission of service to something beyond merely our own interests. Thinking of work mainly as a means of self-fulfillment and self-realization slowly crushes a person."
- Tim Keller
Probably if I had to guess, many of us do not find fulfillment in our day to day jobs if we are only focused on self-interests. Renew your mind starting with this statement.
"In all that I do, may it bring glory to God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
New International Version
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Asking yourself how can painting a turret upgun bring God glory? How can flipping burgers bring God glory? How can fixing cars bring God glory? How do we live out God's will for our lives in everything we do?
Stay in God's Word and follow the commands of Christ. You will be in God's will and work fulfillment will come through the soul not the physical.
Application starts today.
Our full-time jobs are actually our families. But our part-time job as in our careers or jobs that pull in income often mentally, physically, and spiritually drain us.
Meditate on God's Word before we start our day.
Before arriving at either job we must pray for peace, guidance, wisdom, and to be spiritually awakened.
Start to see your job as a mission field.
Practice asking yourself how can this task bring God glory.
Know your rights as an employee related to religious freedom. Paul used his rights as a Roman citizen to his advantage, so should we as citizens of our country.
American Federal law-
"Federal law, commonly referred to as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or Title VII,(1) prohibits most employers(2) and unions(3) from discriminating against their employees on the basis of religion.(4) Title VII applies to any employer having fifteen or more employees for each working day in each of the twenty or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year.(5) Other state or local laws may also prevent discrimination on the basis of religion and such laws may apply to employers with less than fifteen employees.(6)"
https://lc.org/religious-rights-in-the-workplace
For example in my state-
Georgia Constitution
Preamble:
"...we the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution."
Article 1, Section 1,
Paragraph III. Freedom of conscience. Each person has the natural and inalienable right to worship God, each according to the dictates of that person's own conscience; and no human authority should, in any case, control or interfere with such right of conscience.
Paragraph IV. Religious opinions; freedom of religion. No inhabitant of this state shall be molested in person or property or be prohibited from holding any public office or trust on account of religious opinions; but the right of freedom of religion shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state.
https://law.justia.com/constitution/georgia/
This is essentially us equipping our armor and preparing for a successful mission each day. Victorious in the small battles will lead to the victory of the war. Satan and His demonic forces want to destroy your life. The war over your family, marriage, or your life as a disciple will be greatly influenced if we see the importance of our day to day calling.
