It’s Labor Day! Today, we celebrate and honor the American labor movement and all the workers who have contributed to the prosperity and strength of this country. No doubt, many will have cookouts, spending time with family and simply relax. As we enjoy the unofficial end of summer, let’s remember the original Labor Day.

Most people do not have a healthy view of work. Consequently, many endure and tolerate Monday in order to finally get to Friday. We dread Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Then, we “Thank God It’s Friday” because it marks the beginning of the weekend. I am sure this is not a healthy way to think about labor/work. So, what does the Bible say about work?

The Original Labor Day

The original Labor Day began when God created humanity. One of the first things God did was ordain or inaugurate work. Therefore, work is a gift, not a curse. When God created Adam, he gave him a command to work (Genesis 2:15; Exodus 20:9). So, I believe God created work to be a normal rhythm of human existence (Psalm 104:23).  To refuse to work is immoral and sinful (Titus 3:14).

Violating God’s Labor Day Law

In creation, God has established a pattern of work and rest that is to be a model for his people (Genesis 2:1-3). Old Testament believers obeyed the Sabbath to balance work and rest. Jesus practiced a labor and rest rhythm (Mark 6:30-32). Therefore, we should supplement our work with regular rhythms of rest. So, when we work more than we rest or do not follow this divine pattern, we sin. Not only do we sin, we increase our chances of burning out.

Why Did God Give Us the Original Labor Day

Why did God give us work anyway? This is a big issue. I believe there are several reasons why God gave us the gift of work.

• God gave us work and the ability to make money so we could be free from being dependent on others (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
• God gave us work so we could find self-fulfillment in it (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
• We work and earn money so we can enjoy the life God has given us (1 Timothy 6:17).
• We work and earn money so we can share with others (Ephesians 4:28).
• God gave us work so we can partner with God for his glory.

The Consequences of Viewing the Original Labor Day as a Gift From God

When we view work from God’s perspective, we can draw some interesting and compelling conclusions.

• We have a moral duty to work. If we can work but choose not to work, we are sinning. There is a difference between being physically or emotionally incapable of working and refusing to work. The former is understandable; the second is inexcusable (Titus 3:14).
• Every legitimate job – menial or mundane – has intrinsic worth.
• Any legitimate job is a means of worshiping God (Colossians 3:17).
• Any legitimate job is God’s calling (Genesis 2:15).
• Work is empty apart from God (Psalm 127:1).
• We should acknowledge our dependence on God, not in our jobs and the money we make from them (Deuteronomy 8:18-19).

As you celebrate with family and friends, don’t forget to thank God for giving you the gift of work. Thus, no matter how menial or mundane your job, you can glorify God. If it is a dirty job, we are responsible for doing our best in every area every time. So, let’s do our jobs with excellence and with the right attitude. When we do, we glorify God and increase our chances of helping others do the same.

The post Reflections On The Original Labor Day appeared first on Marvin Williams.

cialis no prescription linked hereWhat are your plans to have the best year ever? How will you increase your chances of 2017 being better and more productive than 2016? It won’t happen unless we intentionally spend time reflecting on last year and planning for the next year. Here are a few questions to help you and me have the best year ever.

Each year, people intentionally spend time reflecting on the past year and planning for the year to come. I find this exercise to be extremely beneficial because it forces me to slow down and graph highs and lows and wins and disappointment and create a map for success in the future.

So, what are you going to do to make 2017 better and more productive than 2016? As we’re ending this year, I think it is helpful to reflect on all that has happened in 2016 and plan for what we desire to happen in 2017. In short, If we want to have the best year ever, we must reflect, evaluate, gain insight, and plan ahead.

Consequently, reflection is not a quick exercise. If it is to be meaningful, then we should give considerable time to it. Some high achievers take several hours, and some take an entire day to reflect, evaluate and gain insight into the previous 365 days.

Here are the questions I am using this year to help me have the best year ever. Some of these questions come from Day One Journal, Brad Lomenick, and the book, Eat That Frog. Also, I have added some questions to the list of twenty-six.

Reflect to Have the Best Year Ever

• Where and how did I see God show up in my life this past year?
• What was my favorite single day/single event of the year?
• List ten highlights of the past year.
• List ten disappointments from this previous year.
• What was the best thing I built or created?
• What was the most impactful decision I made for my family’s future?
• As I contemplate the last 365 days, what was my best financial decision and achievement?
• What lifelong goal did I achieve or come close to reaching this year?
• Think back over the year. What was the hardest lesson I learned over the past year?
• If I could change one thing that happened this year, what would it be?
• What did I complete this year? What still feels incomplete?
• Did I neglect anything this year? What three things did I ignore this year? What things did not receive my best attention this year?
• Did I discard anything from life that was holding me back growing in my relationship with God and others? List them here.
• What 2-3 unexpected events caused me to realign or reorder my schedule?
• Did I develop any new hobbies or passions? What new hobbies or passions do I want to grow next year?
• Did I develop any new relationships this past year? If I did, how have those links added value to my life? If I did not, what prevented me from developing those relationships?
• What was the most humbling experience of the past year?
• Is my family closer at the end of this year? Am I a better spouse, parent, and friend? If not, what needs to change immediately?
• What am I most grateful for this past year?

Plan to Have the Best Year Ever

• What are at least three areas of growth that I will focus on this year?
• What are my personal goals for the New Year? Family goals? Faith goals? Health goals? Financial goals? Career goals?
• In what areas will I venture outside my comfort zone in 2017?
• Have I written down my goals (Unwritten goals rarely stick)?
• For accountability and encouragement, with whom am I planning to share my goals?
• How will I know I am are reaching my goals?
• How will I be different in the New Year?

Now, these are just suggestions. Get a journal and spend time answering the questions prayerfully and honestly. Use the ones that you think might be the most productive for your end of the year reflection and beginning of the year goal setting.

Staying Motivated

I don’t know about you, but I fight to stay motivated. What can we do to stay motivated? Here are a few attitudes and actions Michael Hyatt encourages us to adopt to remain motivated in pursuing our goals this year.

• Get off your “but”: Stop making excuses.
• Don’t overthink it: Don’t let planning hinder progress.
• Chunk down your goals: Do the next thing, then the next thing.
• Get it on your calendar: Make a commitment of your time.
• Honor your commitments: Take your goals seriously.
• Maintain forward momentum: Work on your goals – possibly first thing in the morning when you have the smallest chance of getting derailed.
• Celebrate your wins: If you don’t celebrate your successes along the way, you’ll lose the energy you need to reach the finish line.

As we say goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017, may we reflect and plan well! I pray, as we reflect and plan, that we will all have the best year ever.

What has been your end of year practices? 

What are some things you do to increase your odds to have the best year ever? 

The post 26 Questions to Help You Have The Best Year Ever appeared first on Marvin Williams.

It’s Labor Day! Today, we celebrate and honor the American labor movement and all the workers who have contributed to the prosperity and strength of this country. No doubt, many will have cookouts, spending time with family and simply relax. As we enjoy the unofficial end of summer, let’s remember the original Labor Day.

Most people do not have a healthy view of work. Consequently, many endure and tolerate Monday to start our journey toward the weekend. We dread Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Then we “Thank God It’s Friday” because it marks the beginning of the weekend. Is this a healthy way to think about labor/work? What does the Bible say about work?

The Original Labor Day

The original Labor Day began when God created humanity. One of the first things God did was ordain or inaugurate work. Work was and is a gift, not a curse, from the hands of God. When God created Adam, he gave him a command to work (Genesis 2:15; Exodus 20:9). I believe God created work to be a normal rhythm of human existence (Psalm 104:23).  To refuse to work is immoral and sinful (Titus 3:14).

Violating God’s Labor Day Law

Rest is a healthy and natural part of God’s labor day. In creation, God has established a pattern of work and rest that is to be a model for believers (Genesis 2:1-3). Old Testament believers obeyed the Sabbath to balance work and rest. Jesus practiced a labor and rest rhythm (Mark 6:30-32). Therefore, we should supplement our work with regular rhythms of rest. When we work more than we rest or do not follow this divine pattern, we sin. Not only do we sin, we increase our chances of burning out. Therefore, we divine wisdom so we will avoid overworking and laziness. Work and rest are both potential means of making God look good (Colossians 3:17). 

Why Did God Give Us the Original Labor Day

Why did God give us work anyway? This is a big issue. I believe there are several reasons why God gave us the gift of work.

• God gave us work and the ability to make money so we could be free from being dependent on others (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
• We work and earn money so we could find self-fulfillment in our work (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
• God gave us work and the ability to earn money so we can enjoy life. We work and earn money so we can enjoy the life God has given us (1 Timothy 6:17).
• We work and earn money so we can share with others (Ephesians 4:28).

Why Do I Hate My Job So Much?

If God ordained work, why do people hate their jobs so much? Why do they hate getting up and going to work? I think there is a good explanation for these feelings. Human work, which was once a pleasure, became a burden only on account of human disobedience. Consequently, work was under God’s judgment:

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” Genesis 3:17-19

Therefore, work often feels frustrating, discouraging  and like a grind:

So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless. Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing—like working for the wind. Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry. Ecclesiastes 5:16-17

Though work is under the judgment of God, Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross secures redemption of human work. As we apply biblical virtue to our employment, pursue excellence and do our work as if Jesus is our boss, we can once again bring glory to God in our work.

 The Consequences of Viewing Work As a Gift From God

When we view work from God’s perspective, we can draw some interesting and compelling conclusions.

• We have a moral duty to work. If we can work, but choose not to work, we are sinning and immoral. There is a difference between being physically or emotionally incapable of working and refusing to work. The former is understandable; the second is inexcusable (Titus 3:14).
• Every legitimate job – menial or mundane – has intrinsic worth.
• Any legitimate job is a means of worshiping God (Colossians 3:17).
• Any legitimate job is God’s calling (Genesis 2:15).
• Work is empty apart from God (Psalm 127:1).
• We should acknowledge our dependence on God, not in our jobs and the money we make from them (Deuteronomy 8:18-19).

As you celebrate with family and friends, don’t forget to thank God for giving us the gift of work. No matter how menial or mundane our job, we have the potential to glorify God. God calls us to do the job we have been hired to do. If it is a dirty job, we are responsible for doing our best in every area every time. Let’s do our jobs with excellence and with the right attitude. When we do, we glorify God and increases our chances of helping others do the same.

The post A Biblical Way to Think About Labor Day appeared first on Marvin Williams.