Psalm 18 Helps Keep Our Priorities Striaght at Work
We've been finding ways to apply specific passages from Scripture to our work. Sometimes, though, Holy Scripture simply grabs our attention to help us set our priorities straight: to keep God first, even in the midst of our busy day on job. Psalm 18 does just that.
As we read these passages, remember the time Our Lord visited Martha and Mary. Martha was busy with the practical matters of hosting this visit. Mary sat at Our Lord's feet, there to simply be with Him. When Martha complains to Our Lord and asks Him to tell Martha to help her out, our Lord gently chides her: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Keep this in mind as we consider Psalm 18.
"The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world."
Because I've developed the practice of reading Scripture every morning before heading off to work, I've read Psalm 18 many times. But this particular morning, the words literally grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me out of my early morning fog. Looking out my window at the sky and my surroundings, they appeared the same, but at the same time changed: Those so familiar surroundings "shew forth the glory of God."
Not a bad start to what, upon awakening, seemed like it would be just another day at work.
"The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones. The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring forever and ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves."
We're all gearing up for another workday. We want to be ready to immediately tackle the tasks lined up for the day. That's the practical focus that typically drives the start of the day for many of us. But here we're reminded to broaden our perspective. Rather than keep our gaze stuck in the mud of our earthly existence, we're called to raise our eyes up to the Lord. Doing so, we can connect even the most simple tasks, the most pressing tasks, the most demanding tasks directly to our spiritual life.
With that connection, what was ordinary becomes extraordinary. Even as we strive to succeed in a worldly sense, we simultaneously work for the greater glory of God. The passage provides some specifics that help us to do this.
God's law provides the sure, sound foundation for all our thoughts, words, and actions. His commandments both guide and impart wisdom. Justice entails giving each person, and every task we perform, its due. Scripture, in declaring that the "justices of the Lord are right," helps us to realize the importance of these claims. What once might have been seen as rote or repetitious tasks now lift our minds and hearts to God. And let's not overlook the uplifting fact that "the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes."
God's law, His commandments, the virtue of justice do not weigh us down. They are not burdensome. Rather, they shine light on what may at times seem drab or boring tasks. Those around us aren't simply co-workers, some of whom we may find difficult to work with. Rather, these are all children of God, created in His image and likeness - who, like us, may, by God's grace, one day enjoy eternal happiness in Heaven. In this light, we realize we're all heading in the same direction, to accomplish the same goal - Heaven. It doesn't matter whether every one you work with is conscious of this. You are. And, with this understanding, by your good example, with charity for all, you can extend a spiritual hand to help them, whether they're aware of this or not.
Psalm 18 helps us tie our work together with our spiritual lives. As it enlightens us, so it lightens what may sometimes feel the burden or our toil. But we're just getting started. We'll take up two more threads in our next post.
As we read these passages, remember the time Our Lord visited Martha and Mary. Martha was busy with the practical matters of hosting this visit. Mary sat at Our Lord's feet, there to simply be with Him. When Martha complains to Our Lord and asks Him to tell Martha to help her out, our Lord gently chides her: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Keep this in mind as we consider Psalm 18.
"The heavens shew forth the glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of his hands. Day to day uttereth speech, and night to night sheweth knowledge. There are no speeches nor languages, where their voices are not heard. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth: and their words unto the ends of the world."
Because I've developed the practice of reading Scripture every morning before heading off to work, I've read Psalm 18 many times. But this particular morning, the words literally grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me out of my early morning fog. Looking out my window at the sky and my surroundings, they appeared the same, but at the same time changed: Those so familiar surroundings "shew forth the glory of God."
Not a bad start to what, upon awakening, seemed like it would be just another day at work.
"The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls: the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones. The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts: the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring forever and ever: the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves."
We're all gearing up for another workday. We want to be ready to immediately tackle the tasks lined up for the day. That's the practical focus that typically drives the start of the day for many of us. But here we're reminded to broaden our perspective. Rather than keep our gaze stuck in the mud of our earthly existence, we're called to raise our eyes up to the Lord. Doing so, we can connect even the most simple tasks, the most pressing tasks, the most demanding tasks directly to our spiritual life.
With that connection, what was ordinary becomes extraordinary. Even as we strive to succeed in a worldly sense, we simultaneously work for the greater glory of God. The passage provides some specifics that help us to do this.
God's law provides the sure, sound foundation for all our thoughts, words, and actions. His commandments both guide and impart wisdom. Justice entails giving each person, and every task we perform, its due. Scripture, in declaring that the "justices of the Lord are right," helps us to realize the importance of these claims. What once might have been seen as rote or repetitious tasks now lift our minds and hearts to God. And let's not overlook the uplifting fact that "the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes."
God's law, His commandments, the virtue of justice do not weigh us down. They are not burdensome. Rather, they shine light on what may at times seem drab or boring tasks. Those around us aren't simply co-workers, some of whom we may find difficult to work with. Rather, these are all children of God, created in His image and likeness - who, like us, may, by God's grace, one day enjoy eternal happiness in Heaven. In this light, we realize we're all heading in the same direction, to accomplish the same goal - Heaven. It doesn't matter whether every one you work with is conscious of this. You are. And, with this understanding, by your good example, with charity for all, you can extend a spiritual hand to help them, whether they're aware of this or not.
Psalm 18 helps us tie our work together with our spiritual lives. As it enlightens us, so it lightens what may sometimes feel the burden or our toil. But we're just getting started. We'll take up two more threads in our next post.
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