This year I’ve spent a lot of time considering the prodigal son’s father. In that story, we know how he celebrates the return of his lost son. But in that time while his wasteful son was away, the father was at home working faithfully.
In 1 Kings 9 and 2 Chronicles 8, there’s a lot of work. Building structures and cities. Burnt offerings, festivals, temple obligations. Travel. Some work is obvious, but the Lord speaks to Solomon, and specifically his heart.
When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, 2 the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 The Lord said to him:
“I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
4 “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, 5 I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’
6 “But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. (1 Kings 9:1-7, NIV, emphasis added)
First Timothy 5 also covers work–about caring for family, widows in particular, and church elders. Today’s reading ends here:
24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. (1 Timothy 5:24-25, NIV)
Some things are obvious, and others, not so much. Eventually, our lives, our work, our hearts will speak for us. Our reputations will either precede us, or we’ll be known by the wake we leave behind.
Lord, help me to stay diligent to stewarding what you have given me. My work, my family, my faith, whether obvious known by heart, let my actions and intentions glorify you.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 