November 06, 2024
“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"
- Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV)
We can consider two classes of work. The generalized type of work and the specialized type of work. In either class, there is no small work. Remember, man must work (Genesis 2:15) to actualize the dominion mandate (Genesis 1:28). If we find work to do and do it well (Ecclesiastes 9:10), surely, it will bring compensation. Proverbs 14:23 says, “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty”.
Generalized work refers to tasks that do not necessarily demand formal academic credentials or specialized training. It is common work that many people know how to do. It is the type of work that is undertaken to ‘make ends meet’. The compensation from this type of work is usually subpar and just about satisfies the basic needs of life and honours financial obligations.
When Ruth returned with Naomi to Bethlehem, they had nothing (for they had both lost husbands) Ruth said to Naomi in Ruth 2:2, “Please let me go to the field and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favour”. This was the task at hand, and Ruth undertook it, earning Boaz's favour.
This specialized type of work involves skills that may include innate talent, academic qualifications, training, and/or certifications. Now we may not all have these listings in our repertoire, we can however, with what we have upskill by learning a new trade or developing a new skill that consolidates or leverages what we do have.
There is no small work.
The Hebrew children who were captives in Babylon underwent training for three years, being taught the language and literature of their captors. This was despite being gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge, being quick to understand and having the ability to serve in the King’s palace (Daniel 1:4-5)
The compensation from specialized work is up to par. The higher our skill, the more we are compensated, recognized and sought after. In Judges 20 when the Israelites were going to war against the Benjamites, the Bible records in verses 15 and 16, that while there were twenty-six thousand swordsmen, there were seven hundred select left-handed troops who could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.
There would have been many things for the man to work in the Garden of Eden. From cultivating the land to looking after the animals and naming them (Genesis 2:19-20). In today’s world, the work could range between Farming and Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant and Animal Science, Zoology, Veterinary Medicine and a numerous host of workmanships the man got involved in.
What type of training would the man have received to perform his work in the garden?
Song of Worship
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Keep me burning 'til the break of day
Hymn: Give Me Oil in My Lamp
Prayer - Dear Lord, show me the areas in my life I need to upskill to do the work that You would have me do in Jesus' name, Amen.