“Hard work is painful when life is devoid of purpose. But when you live for something greater than yourself and the gratification of your own ego, then hard work becomes a labor of love.” ~ Steve Pavlina
How would you define the labor of love? Are you doing something you love? Do you work in a trade or occupation where you would do it for free if you could? Does your current labor put smiles on people’s faces and help those without have what they need in life?
Many of us work in jobs that provide wages necessary for survival. Some own businesses, so they not only produce wages for themselves but others as well. The question for today is, do you love it? The job you are investing 40+ hours a week does it provide for the labor of love? You may not be able to change careers easily, but if you could, what are the possibilities? What would a job vested in a labor of love look like for you? What actions could you take in your current position to create a labor of love? Lastly, if it’s not possible to produce a labor of love out of your current job, then what additional work can you invest in that will?
Our mother loved to bake. She sold insurance by the day, but she spent many nights and weekends baking. Mom loved her job as an insurance professional and blessed many people with the fruits of her labor. Momma Long also loved to bless people for free and for fun. She was on the baking team at church, and she loved providing fresh-baked bread, pies, cookies, cakes, etc., for the church, funerals, etc. People loved Momma Long’s baking; it was a labor of love that blessed countless people. She was also a regular volunteer for the American Red Cross and helped serve with local disasters in the St. Louis area, e.g., house fires, floods, tornadoes, etc. Momma Long loved serving others for free and for fun. Loving God, loving others, to help change the world, was her labor of love.
God saved us from the bondage of self so that we can love God, love others, and help change the world. Love and service are how God’s kingdom materializes in the world. Once we are rightly related to God, our lives are no longer our own and now belong to the kingdom to become a labor of love.
“This is because we remember your work that comes from faith, your effort that comes from love, and your perseverance that comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father”(1 Thessalonians 1:3 – CEB).
“10 God isn’t unjust so that he forgets your efforts and the love you have shown for his name’s sake when you served and continue to serve God’s holy people” (Hebrews 6:10 – CEB).
The labor of love is an act of love and service for God’s kids. We all have different gifts and abilities for sharing the labor of love. The challenge each of us faces is how to express our love through our talents and skills. Once we discover what those are, then it’s time to get into action. What are your gifts? What ideas do you have for producing a labor of love? What will you do, starting today, to be intentional when it comes to the labor of love?
Lord, thank You for the ability to love and serve in Your Name. Please help me discover my gifts and allow them to produce a labor of love for Your kids. Because I am blessed, I know the calling on my life is to be a blessing to others. Please remove the character flaws that steal my willingness to share in the labor of love. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine always materialize, now and forever. Amen.
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