“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. 12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor–it is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 NKJV
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, made the observation in the book of Ecclesiastes that nothing is better for us than to rejoice, and to do good in our lives. He also says that it is the gift of God for every man and woman to eat and drink and enjoy the good of all their labor. According to this – God wants us to enjoy our lives.
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Ephesians 4:28 NIV
God expects us to work and to enjoy the fruit of our own work. We are not to take that which belongs to another – the things they have worked for. God wants us to work for our own blessing and He wants us to be very blessed so that we can share with others.
Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him-for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 NIV
Many people think that acquiring wealth and possessions will make them happy, but this is not usually the case. They want what they don’t already have. Much of the time, people think that the grass is always greener on the other side, but they soon find out that it is not. Even though they have a lot – they want more and are never satisfied. It is truly a gift of God to be blessed with prosperity and to be happy and contented at the same time and this is God’s desire for us.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways. 2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Psalms 128:1-2 NIV
When you fear and honor God and walk in His ways then you will enjoy the fruit of your own labor and then blessings and prosperity will be yours.
You shall carry much seed out to the field and gather but little in, for the locust shall consume it. 39 You shall plant vineyards and tend them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them. 40 You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil; for your olives shall drop off. 41 You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity. 42 Locusts shall consume all your trees and the produce of your land. Deuteronomy 28:38-42 NKJV
If you will not honor and obey the Lord, then other people will enjoy the fruit of your labor – people you don’t even know or like. They will take your land and the fruit of your land. They will even take you and your family captive. You will be indebted to them because “the rich rule over the poor
and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters–that you may be increased there, and not diminished.
Jeremiah 29:4-6 NKJV
If we have been rebellious and disobedient in the past and if we have struggled and suffered because of it – then it is time to turn around, repent and become sold out for God. When we repent, then God will restore what we have lost and add more to it besides. The Lord will bless us and increase us. We will once again enjoy the fruits of our own labor.
