"Work"

If I had said to my Dad long dead,

I don’t feel like work today,

He’d say let’s go, and I don’t mean slow,

We don’t have time to play.

Steers to pen and sort and then,

Load ‘em on that truck,

If you were slow, I’ll have you know,

With Dad you’re out of luck.

If you stayed out late he’d never wait,

For an hour more of sleep,

Hung over bad from the time you had,

You’d best your promise keep.

I talk to some, the young ones come,

I ask them how they feel,

They’re always tired, their strength expired,

Low energy’s the deal.

I wonder why, I really try,

To understand and all,

But think I know by what they show,

Don’t know what else to call,

What seems to me, a sorry spree,

Of lazy, wasted days,

Excused away by games they play,

Entitlement unfazed.

I know I’m old, my story’s told,

More gone that what’s ahead,

But rise and go and never slow,

Until the day I’m dead.

The old hymn said, and I have read,

We’ll work till Jesus comes,

Wake from our sleep, deep calls to deep,

Praise from a thousand tongues.

“Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, NLT)

There is something holy about good, hard work. I know some take their work to the extreme of workaholism. But a strong work ethic is Spirit-born. And the spirit of entitlement is demonic. If our young are not instructed in this wisdom, they will be possessed by the laziness that destroys the abundant life Jesus died to give us. Let us lead by what we do and say, in Jesus’ name.

Lord, help us to live a respectable life, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mikel Donahue, used by permission. Thanks, Mikel, and God bless you.