Fall Back Into Faith - Part 8 Fortune

Happy Friday and welcome back to our eighth installment of Fall Back Into Faith, our fall bible study for working women.  We have wrapped up looking at faith and family and are in the middle of "fortune."  Last week, we looked at doing what God has called you to do and acknowledging Him in what you do.  This week, we are looking at God's instruction to WORK HARD!  And next week we will look at God's call for us to be generous - with our money but also with our time and talent which certainly are part of our "fortune." 

Some of us may have seen the words of Proverbs 31 more times that we can count - other may never have read it.  Let's just say this chapter describes one busy busy woman:  "She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night."

Don't you love this?  I think sometimes we see push back from some corners of the faith based community about working women, but this "ideal" woman described by the Bible is working full time.  SHE provides food for her family.  SHE buys a field.  SHE plants the vineyard.  SHE makes sure her trading is profitable.  Is this a crazy busy business woman or what?  

There are over 500 references to work in the Bible - that is a book that tackles work.  The one thing we learn from all corners of the Bible though is that you must work hard.  Be diligent.  Don't give up.  Stay faithful. 

But those of you overwhelmed by all of this work and life spinning around you, I have encouraging words of action for you.  Rest.  God also commands us to rest.  Maybe we're so frantic because we haven't taken a moment off in three years. 

So today, work hard when you work, take some time to rest, and give Him the glory. 

Work Hard:  2 Chronicles 24 - The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them; 2 Chronicles 15 - But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded; 2 Chronicles 31 - This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.; 2 Chronicles 34 - The workers labored faithfully.; I Chronicles 28 - And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you…Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.

Rest:  Genesis 2 - By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (See also Hebrews 4)

Give Him The Glory: Colossians 3 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.; I Corinthians 10 - Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Further Reading:  2 Timothy 2, Colossians 3, 2 Thessalonians 3, all of 2 Chronicles