Work Song

When I was growing up, I remember singing a hymn entitled, “Work, for the Night Is Coming.” The lyrics, penned in 1854 by Anna L. Coghill, contain these words among several verses:

Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours; Work ‘mid springing flowers;
Work through the sunny noon; Rest comes sure and soon.
Under the sunset skies; Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth, Fadeth to shine no more;
Work while the night is dark’ning, When man’s work is o’er.

The work this song speaks of is not just staying busy, occupying seconds, minutes, and hours until the little and big hands on the clock reach a certain position. No, the work these words refer to is what every Christian that walks on the earth is created to do. “What is that?” you might ask.

In his book  It’s Not About Me:  Rescue from the Life We Thought Would Make Us Happy,  Max Lucado answers this question with clarity and simplicity:

The breath you last took [yes, that one] was given to you [by God]
for one reason: that you might, for another moment,
“reflect the Lord’s glory”   (based on 2 Corinthians 3:18).

God awoke you and me this morning for one purpose:
“Declare his glory among the nations”   (1 Chronicles 16:24).

While Mr. Lucado wrote about how we should use the gift of life, David Jeremiah echoed similar sentiments from the perspective of the gift of time:

We have one goal, and that is to glorify Christ. [So,] honor God
by carefully investing the precious moments of time that he gives you.

God has blessed me with both life and time. And any ability I have at putting words together or working outdoors with a camera also comes from God. Therefore, I want that work to glorify and honor the Lord.

Make a careful exploration of who you are
and the work you have been given,
and then sink yourself into that.

– Galatians 6:4 (The Message)

Your abilities were not given to you just to make a living.
God gave them to you for your ministry.

– Rick Warren (based on 1 Peter 4:10-11)

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

– 1 Corinthians 10:31b (New King James Version)