The Rewards of Our Labor
What are the rewards of your labor? Ask different people, get different answers. Money for sure; but money isn't everything. Some of us consider other factors like job satisfaction, recognition, gaining status and power (and the perks that come with it) in a corporation, achieving financial freedom at some point in our lives.
Whatever the rewards you seek and obtain, let's remember this cautionary tale from the mouth of Our Lord, retold in Luke 13. It concerns a successful man who found himself in possession of great rewards one year.
The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits. And he thought within himself, saying: What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and will build greater; and into them will I gather all things that are grown to me, and my goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thy rest; eat, drink, make good cheer. But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee: and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.
I don't think this requires additional commentary. But while Our Lord's stories and lessons typically make their point in a manner most of us can readily understand, it's not just the understanding, but rather what we do with that understanding, that will make our lives better. And Our Lord here leaves nothing to the imagination:
Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on. The life is more than the meat, and the body is more than the raiment. Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much are you more valuable than they? And which of you, by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?
If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. Now if God clothe in this manner the grass that is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more you, O ye of little faith? And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink: and be not lifted up on high. For all these things do the nations of the world seek. But your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands.
Whatever rewards you garner from your work, remember these precious words given to us by Jesus Christ Himself. As I've mentioned in the past, I have these posted in my office. From time to time, I'll take a break from my labors and, in the silence of the moment, quietly read and, with whatever time I can spare, briefly meditate on them. Whatever wisdom that might sink in in those moments helps me to refocus my heart and mind on what's really important. That's not to say I won't seek and appreciate whatever rewards my labor brings that day. I just won't waste my time building bigger barns. For that I'm eternally grateful.
Whatever the rewards you seek and obtain, let's remember this cautionary tale from the mouth of Our Lord, retold in Luke 13. It concerns a successful man who found himself in possession of great rewards one year.
The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits. And he thought within himself, saying: What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and will build greater; and into them will I gather all things that are grown to me, and my goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thy rest; eat, drink, make good cheer. But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee: and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?
So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.
I don't think this requires additional commentary. But while Our Lord's stories and lessons typically make their point in a manner most of us can readily understand, it's not just the understanding, but rather what we do with that understanding, that will make our lives better. And Our Lord here leaves nothing to the imagination:
Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on. The life is more than the meat, and the body is more than the raiment. Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much are you more valuable than they? And which of you, by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?
If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these. Now if God clothe in this manner the grass that is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more you, O ye of little faith? And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink: and be not lifted up on high. For all these things do the nations of the world seek. But your Father knoweth that you have need of these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands.
Whatever rewards you garner from your work, remember these precious words given to us by Jesus Christ Himself. As I've mentioned in the past, I have these posted in my office. From time to time, I'll take a break from my labors and, in the silence of the moment, quietly read and, with whatever time I can spare, briefly meditate on them. Whatever wisdom that might sink in in those moments helps me to refocus my heart and mind on what's really important. That's not to say I won't seek and appreciate whatever rewards my labor brings that day. I just won't waste my time building bigger barns. For that I'm eternally grateful.
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