The Light of Life Daily Devotional

Thursday, 26th May 2022 

TOPIC: MINISTERING TO YOUR OWN NEEDS 

FOR READING & MEDITATION:  ACTS 20:33-35.

33 “I have never been hungry for money or fine clothing— 34 you know that these hands of mine worked to pay my own way and even to supply the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I was a constant example to you in helping the poor; for I remembered the words of the Lord Jesus, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

MEDITATE 

Yesterday we advanced two reasons why we need to work: (1) to make a living, and (2) to help you develop your God-given potentials. Today, we shall consider more reasons why work is so very important. 

Apostle Paul gave us the third reason from our text why we should work: it is to gain a sense of satisfaction, fulfilment and accomplishment that make up for essential, healthy living.  There is a sense of fulfilment that comes to you when you commit and do something with your hands and succeed. It makes you less dependent on other people and places other less privileged people to be dependent on you as you bless them cheerfully with the fruit of the work of your hands. When you therefore sit down to enjoy that which you have laboured for, it gives you great joy and satisfaction. The fact is, it takes more than food, drinks and cloths to be happy in life because you may have all these and yet be unhappy:  But accomplishing your goals makes you feel really happy. 

Another reason is that work is an avenue by which one fulfils God's plan and purpose for one's life. No one is an accident on planet earth; as such you too are a creature of destiny. 

God created you to make certain contributions to the world and leave it better than you met it. Someone once said that, everything you enjoy from the day you were born up until you grow up is what other people have laboured for. That is their contributions for coming here on earth before you. So you eat, ply the roads and fly the airplanes that have been invented by others. But if you live all through your life enjoying those things and never make any contribution that other people after you will enjoy, you may as well be considered a thief. 

The apostle Paul says; "Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God's mighty kindness and love" (Acts 20:22-24 TLB).  Again he says; "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). He lived for something higher than food even though he ate and lived under a roof. He even wore clothes but lived for a higher objective than these.

Don't allow the content of the materialistic messages preached from our pulpits today take away your heart from focusing on God. These kinds of message without eternity in view are the reason for the cold heartedness, half-heartedness and lack of commitment to God in the Church today

VERSE OF THE DAY: “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me” (Acts 20:33-34).

QUOTE: “Someone once said that, everything you enjoy from the day you were born up until you grow up is what other people have laboured for”.

PRAYER: Lord, your word says I should work with all my might, give me therefore your grace to obey this truth, in Jesus' name. Amen.    

AUTHOR: Rev William Okoye