"The Futility of Work"

  "I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world. 

 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, them must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn't worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. So what to people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with paid and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. 

 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless - like chasing the wind." (Ecclesiastes 2:18-26 NLT)

 ""Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."" (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)

 We need to understand something about the way God works, because there are some who He has given the ability to live, shall we say, outside the bounds of what He requires, while others are kept in the way of doing all that they should. Not that He has any favorites or anything like that, because He doesn't! But He knows the beginning and the end! 

 I know, it doesn't seem fair, but not everyone is able to bounce back! If you want a good example, David is one that paints a pretty perfect picture. Because of his heart towards God, David was a man that knew that God was the lover of his soul; the only One that he could turn to in times of trouble, the only One that could give him comfort when he felt despair; no matter what he might have done, God was still there to forgive him, if asked Him for forgiveness! 

 We must understand the heart of God! He knows full well what we are capable of doing, what we will do, and what have done! There is nothing hidden from His sight; not even those dreams we might have, that make us feel ashamed; He knows everything about us, even more than we know about ourselves! 

 Think about what God has done! His love for us, knowing how we sin and rebel against Him, and yet, He sent His One and Only Son to pay the penalty for all that we have done or ever will do, because He knows we cannot obey Him as we should! If we could, Jesus would not have had to come and die for our sins! 

 It is all about LOVE! He loves you, just as you are, He has always loved you! He proved that love by sending His Son to die for your sins, so that you could have eternal life with Him...

""Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon the rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."" (Matthew 7:24-27 KJV)