work and work

My wife and I love to take an occasional stroll on the beach. There’s really not much more relaxing than walking along the edge of the water and watching all the wonderful sights. I especially enjoy watching all the children playing in the sand and building those sand castle masterpieces. The kids on the beach are so intense with their sand buckets and shovels and are so proud of what they’ve built. There’s just nothing like it.

On our most recent trip to the beach, we were able to do a little more walking than usual. The beach meandered around the coastline for miles and miles. We soon came across a pier that reached out into the ocean water several hundred feet or so. We thought that this would be a nice place to sit a few moments and catch our breath so we both sat off to the side of the pier observing all the busy fishermen testing their skills. We found a nice shady spot next to some large concrete support beams which shielded us temporarily from the heat of the day.

As I sat there, I noticed that we weren’t the first ones of the day at this particular spot. There were the remains of a small sand castle that was fighting to stay in tact from the onslaught of the crashing waves. The small footprints that were once fresh in the sand, no doubt the builders of the sand castle, were now just barely visible. It would only be a few more dozen waves until the sand would be a clean slate again, ready for the next day’s activities. This was in stark contrast to the artwork I soon noticed in the concrete support beam next to us. I wasn’t sure when the pier was built, but –at the time it was built–someone decided to place themselves in immortality by carving a small heart in the concrete with the names of themselves and their loved one. It was hardened in the concrete for all to see for as long as the concrete was standing.

I thought to myself how symbolic this was of God’s Word and our Work in the Christian Life. How often do we work and work and work, doing what we may feel the Lord has called us to do, only to see little reward—–at least in our own minds. We wonder if anything we do in the Christian Life is permanent or simply temporary? The important thing for us, as Christians, to remember is that if we are obedient, there will always be rewards if we don’t grow weary.

That day on the beach showed me two types of Works. One that was temporary and one that was permanent. Whatever you are doing for the Lord, keep it up. HIS work has permanent results and is never in vain. Don’t quit and don’t grow tired. It may be years before you see results, or the results may not even be in your lifetime, but you’ll always leave footprints hardened in the concrete for others to see, not washed away like the sands on the beach.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Galations 6: 9 (NIV)

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Sometimes, life just doesn’t seem fair. We work and work and work and seemingly can’t catch a break. Sometimes, we go through life thinking that it just doesn’t matter what I do–I’m never going to get ahead. We might be working long hours. We might be working two or more jobs. We might be working and going to school to get ahead. We might simply be struggling with balancing home and work life. After a while, all this work and no play creates an unbelievable amount of stress in our lives. I know there were times in my life when I struggled with many of those issues. I questioned why I worked so hard for seemingly little reward. Sometimes, it seemed like it would be easier to simply quit and give up and stop treading water, but I kept on going anyway. If you have ever felt that way or currently feel this way, I encourage you to continue on your journey.

Several months ago, I decided to drive by the very first house I can remember our family living in when I was a young child. I am not sure why I wanted to do that but for some reason I was just in the mood to think back on my childhood. I managed to drive by this small, brick home with so many great memories. What immediately struck me was this huge pink blossom tree in the front yard. I don’t even know what type of tree it was; perhaps a dogwood or pink dogwood. Nonetheless, I distinctly remembered my dad planting this tree probably over 45 years ago. I remembered watching him plant that small sapling on that particular day all those years ago and now it was a strong, blossoming tree towering over the front yard. It so reminded me of Galatians 6:9 when it speaks of letting us not lose heart in doing good for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

I am sure that little tree endured through many terrible winters and hot summers, but it endured. It took years and years for it to grow into the beautiful tree that now graces that yard, but the beauty is now there for others to enjoy. What was planted years ago is now more breathtaking than ever.

In my life, I have learned to focus less on the short-term and more on what God’s purpose is for my life. If I focus on His purpose and the long-term goal, I am not as concerned with short term setbacks. Instead of looking at setbacks as road blocks, they become merely stepping stones to the larger purpose. Just because I don’t see an immediate reward for what I am doing doesn’t mean there isn’t a benefit. It just may mean that I need to endure and keep moving on and the reward may come later, sometimes in ways I could never imagine.

As you think about your day, your life, and your purpose—don’t grow weary. Who would have thought that an innocent sapling planted over 50 years ago would have reminded me of such a Godly promise? Keep moving on and don’t be discouraged and you will reap in due time.

Footprints for Others

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Having Faith Not To Grow Weary

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