Day of Praise

We, Mar 20, "Day of Praise"

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" - Ecclesiastes 9:10

My 14 year-old son and I have a running joke -- I scored 28 points in a basketball game once.

I really did score 28 in a basketball game once. But we laugh about it because I'm not very good at basketball. My dad used to say that I played with brute strength and awkwardness. In other words, I tried hard, but I wasn't smooth and talented.

This is what I understand God to mean in today's verse, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

God knows that we're not going to be smooth and talented at everything we do. But, for heaven's sake, if you're going to do something, at least try hard. And give it the best that you've got, believing that effort really does mean something to God.

So today, if you're at work, do your job with all your might. But also if someone needs a word of encouragement, even if you're shy, then at least try. When you're out and about, try with all your might to do things in a way that's pleasing to God with kindness and honesty and cheerfulness. If your church meets on Wednesday, as ours does, then try with all your might to get there, and then try with all your might to participate and speak up in the fellowship time and in the Bible study. And sing with all your might in worship. (Please do not do like somebody I used to know who used their might to tell the people around them not to sing so loud!)

In sum, you may not be very good at some of the things you have to do, but give God a chance to work through you. And "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Who knows? Maybe, as with my 28-point basketball game, you'll have one of the greatest times of your life. But you'll never know, unless you try.

Praise God!


Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson