DO YOUR BEST AT WHATEVER YOU DO

Proclamation:

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

Explanation:

The wisest man to ever live, King Solomon, (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34) the son of King David, wrote these words under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to warn the young people, and all of the other people of God, to avoid just going through life relying on human wisdom and doing just enough to get by.  He encouraged them to do their very best at whatever they do.

Application:

I was taught that one should do their very best to be the best at whatever it is that they do.  The Bible teaches us that we should do our best, and that we should work as if what we are doing is for The Lord. (Colossians 3:23)  We are also taught that we should get busy and not procrastinate because this life is short. (John 9:4)  Whatever we do, and in all that we do, we should do our best to do it to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)  Nothing that we do should be done in a half-hearted manner.  Every thing that we do should be done to the best of our ability.  “Anything that is worth doing is worth doing right.” (Author unknown)  If it is worth doing then it is worthy of our best effort.  This life is short.  When we come to the end of this life and look back over our life, it will be much more rewarding and enjoyable when we have done the best that we could do in all that we have done.  We should do our best so that God will be glorified in our efforts.

We Should Always Do Our Best

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

The wisdom of King Solomon is also reflected in the Book of Ecclesiastes.  Here he is urging the people that when they work, they should do their very best, at whatever it is that they do, while they have the opportunity because death is coming.  After they die, they will not be able to do anything, or plan anything, or think anything, or know anything. 

Jesus, The Christ, said "I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work." (John 9:4)  Jesus knew that He had to be serious about doing His Father's work while He was here on earth, because He knew that His days were numbered.  The same is true for each one of us, our time on earth is limited.  Jesus was all about doing His Father's work even as a child. (Luke 2:49)  We need to work as if all that we are doing is for Him. (Colossians 3:17 and 3:23, and Romans 12:11)  We should do our very best when we work, at whatever we do, because we are, in fact, working for The Lord.  This life is not a dress rehearsal, we need to get it right, because there will not be a second chance to get it right after we die.  For after death, then comes the judgement.  That is when we all want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:21 and 23)  

God's Favor Is Upon Us

"May the favor of The Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us, yes, establish the work of our hands."  "Psalms 90:17 (NIV)

In this, the only psalm written by Moses, he ends it by asking God to grant them His favor and to grant that their life and their life's work may have meaning and be what God has called them to be.  After being in the wilderness for forty years the Children of Israel had done not work and had produced nothing.

Only with God's favor and His blessing can we be productive and lead productive lives.  Unfortunately, we do not give God the credit for all that we do.  We think that we did it ourselves.  Only in God do we live, move, and have our very being. (Acts 17:28)  Through Him were all things made, and without Him nothing was made. (John1:3)  We should thank God for all that we do, and for every talent, skill, and ability that we have.