A Mind to Work

Cortright Homepage A Mind to Work

Nehemiah 4:6
So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.

In Nehemiah, believers who had been living in captivity in Babylon were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the city wall. There was opposition from those who did not want the children of Israel to return. The believers worked hard to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem and they completed the job because they "had a mind to work."

The believers who rebuilt the wall did the work because they knew that it was God's Will for it to be done. This was a specific task done for God. God should be at the center of all the work we do.

Proverbs 14:23
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Labor is hard work. It is work that can be described as "a heavy burden." The Word of God states that in all labor there is profit. God wants us to work and He wants us to work hard. It is a principle of God's Word that hard work (labor) results profit. The talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. God expects us to work to have those things that we need. In our society today there are many who want "something for nothing." They hope to win the lottery or have everything given to them. When they do work, they do not have a "mind to work." They have a mind to "get out of work."

Proverbs 21:25
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

To covet is to have "a mind to get get get." The slothful man wants to have things but refuses to work. He spends all of his time thinking about "getting." The righteous (the one who is right before God) is give oriented. He gives in his work and then he gives to others who have need that which he has received from his labor. This is "the mind to work" that God desires for us to have. We work to have that which we need. We also work to have to give to others.

Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

That is God's Word! I did not write it. There is a difference between increase that is gained by work and wealth that is gained by vanity. God wants us to work hard and then to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Ecclesiastes 2:24
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that is was from the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:18
Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

We are to work and work hard. That which we receive as a result of our labor is from the hand of God. This also is a concept that is hard for many to understand. The increase we receive as a result of our work is given to us as our portion from God. A man may be the one who signs your check, but God is the supplier of all our needs. And if God makes you rich as a result of your labor, then the Word of God says you are to enjoy that portion which God gave you and understand that the riches you have are a gift from God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19
Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

Proverbs 23:4
Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

We do not work to be rich. We work because it is God's Will that we work. If God choses to give us wealth as a result of our labor that is His business. We need to trust God to meet our needs and cease from our own wisdom.

Wealth gained from hard work is wealth to be enjoyed and shared; but wealth gotten by vanity and held by covetousness results in a troubled mind.

Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Sweet sleep! Peace of mind. What a tremendous promise from God.

Ephesians 4:28
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Those who covet and have a "mind to get" without work will also be those who steal to have that which they need. God wants us to be "give oriented." A believer with a "mind to work" is a believer that is focused on meeting the needs of others rather than satisfying himself. We work to have that which we need. More importantly, we work to have to give to him that needeth.

I Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

First and foremost, a "mind to work" is a mind focused on God. Let us be mindful of God and His Word and work hard knowing that it is God who supplies all of our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.