In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV

The more and more we learn about the human body, the more the ways of God look brilliant. The scientific community is learning about the connection between the body, work, and goals. We are learning that doing hard things has benefits within itself rather than just achieving the goal that leads us to do hard things. Without learning to see the toil as profitable, chasing the following goals becomes harder. God has given this wisdom thousands of years ago. In fact, all the disciplines that Christians should practice follow this wisdom. Prayer in itself is beneficial to the believer, as well as studying God’s word and being in fellowship with other believers. He has not only set the goal but has made it impossible to achieve it without him. He calls us to seek after a goal that is guaranteed to those who believe while calling us to toil for the profit that is found within the toiling, sanctification. We are to seek profit within the toil, and when we do, we will notice that the effort is actually nothing because God’s burden is light.

Extended Version:

We must remember that our focus should never be on earthly things. We must, as believers, live a life that focuses on things with eternal value. We must seek the food that endures eternal life. Also, we must be discerning about those around us; we must not enable those unwilling to work. We deprive them of the profit they would find in the toil. Just like there is profit in the effort of doing spiritual disciplines, there is profit in the grind of earthly things. We must remember that we should only toil over godly things or for God and enable those to do the same. For many not willing to work, it will not seek kind, but we must trust the wisdom of God and not be persuaded away from it. There is no love without truth.

Challenge:

Evaluate your life and see if you are more talk than toil, then evaluate if you are toiling for the wrong things.

Prayer:

Lord, please guide me in ensuring that I toil over the things that have eternal value; and that my words are followed by action.

Additional Scripture:

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” John 6:27 ESV

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV