Dear Lord, thank You for giving Daddy a job and the opportunity to use all the talents You have given him.
Grant my dad grace that above all else, he may guard his heart and in faith, seek with determination to please You in his work.
Lord, please give him wisdom and help him to do his work efficiently. Whenever he is troubled or worried about his work, help him to depend on You, and to trust in You in all his ways, confident that You will guide his path.
Pray that You will make his heart humble and gentle, and may his words be edifying to others. May he find favour in the eyes of his superiors, and help him to maintain good relations with his colleagues, subordinates, and customers.
[PAUSE: Pray for your dad’s needs in the workplace.]
May You establish his work, and prosper him in all that he does, that through the work of his hands, he may bless others.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:26; Psalm 90:17; Proverbs 4:23, 3:5-6; 2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Who Am I Working For?
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
Henry worked 70 hours a week. He loved his job and brought home a sizeable paycheck to provide good things for his family. He always had plans to slow down but he never did. One evening he came home with great news—he had been promoted to the highest position in his company. But no one was home. Over the years, his children had grown up and moved out, his wife had found a career of her own, and now the house was empty. There was no one to share the good news with.
Solomon talked about the need to keep a balance in life with our work. He wrote, “Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves” (Eccl. 4:5). We don’t want to go to the extreme of being lazy, but neither do we want to fall into the trap of being a workaholic. “Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind” (v. 6). In other words, it is better to have less and enjoy it more. Sacrificing relationships at the altar of success is unwise. Achievement is fleeting, while relationships are what make our life meaningful, rewarding, and enjoyable (vv. 7-12).
We can learn to work to live and not live to work by choosing to apportion our time wisely. The Lord can give us this wisdom as we seek Him and trust Him to be our Provider.
Reflect & Pray
How does your dad’s attitude toward work inspire you? How would you pray for him?
Lord, show me if my priorities are skewed and where I need to make changes. Thank You for the gift of family and friends.
To spend time wisely, invest it in eternity.
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