IN THE BEGINNING THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, July 5, 2011
LABOURING TO REST?
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11
God has a desire and a work (labor) for your life. It will profit you much to take time and to do the work of discerning your calling. That is your first labor. Once you discern your calling, your peace, reward, and rest are gained by engaging in the work you’ve been called to perform. Consider the parable of the talents. In this parable the talents represent the calling, the work that must be developed or engaged in. The parable is set forth in Matthew:
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:14-30
In this parable we see that the servant who labors enters into rest: ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD (Matthew 25:21). In sharp contrast, the servant who does not work, but buries the talent in the earth is called wicked and slothful and is cast into utter darkness where there is no rest, only weeping and gnashing of teeth. Moreover, we must see that the wicked and slothful servant expressed fear (Matthew 25:25). He did not operate in faith and he did not enter into rest.
Today, let us labor to discern our calling and again labor (work diligently) to be profitable servants of God.
Today, let us labor to discern our calling and again labor (work diligently) to be profitable servants of God.
