Day 72 – Work

Proverbs 16:26 The person who labors, labors for himself, for his hungry mouth drives him on.

• God’s names:
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH
• Elohiym – Supreme God
• Adonay – God’s proper name
• Yeshuwa/Iesous – Jesus
• Christos – Anointed One, Messiah

• God’s character:
• Provider

People work to take care of themselves and their families. They need to feed, clothe, and shelter themselves, and their families. They cannot do that if they don’t work.

Solomon knew the fundamental truth of life: work provided for a person’s everyday needs. His primary work came from YAHWEH who anointed him as king of Israel. Solomon was also a landowner and employer. He worked to provide for his needs and the needs of his family.

Ecclesiastes 2:4 I made my works great; I built myself houses and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and orchards, and I planted many kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. 7 I bought male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than everyone who was in Jerusalem before me. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I bought male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of many kinds. 9 So I became great and excelled more than everyone before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me. 10 Whatever my eyes wanted I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in my labor; and this was my reward from my labor. 11 Then I looked at the work my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed, it was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

Solomon knew that the only profit came from YAHWEH. Of himself everything he did was pointless. Only when he gave everything he did to YAHWEH, did his work have meaning. By himself, he could not have done what he did and remained true to his work. Hunger would drive him, but so did the desire to do what Elohiym purposed in him. Solomon’s Adonay was YAHWEH. Because He was, he could take care of the needs of himself and his family.

Many Christians look for handouts from the church. Paul knew that and addressed it to the church in Ephesus.

Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (NKJV)

When you serve Yeshuwa with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, the work you do for Him not only feeds you, but those who have a genuine need in the body of Christos. In taking care of yourself first, you can supply everything you need and give to others because Christos lives in you. Don’t look for others to give you food and clothing when you have the strength to take care of yourself. You dishonor Yeshuwa and the body of Christos when you do.

Let’s pray: Father, give me strength to work for You, so that I can take care of my needs and the genuine needs of others who cannot take care of themselves. Let me give You praise in the labor of my hands and give You glory in everything I do. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 1 April 2026 by Valerie Routhieaux