Reminders: How Lucky Are You?

When my brother and I were 4-H club members, there was a tour of farms, where the members lived, to observe our projects.  When the tour group came to our farm, they critiqued our 4-H projects, but they couldn’t help also noticing our mother’s gardens.  She raised a large variety of vegetables, and an even more impressive variety of flowers.  One of the 4-H leaders commented on how beautiful her gardens were, and then added, “But you are so lucky not to have as many weeds as we have.”  What she didn’t know is that there was a reason we didn’t have any weeds.  Mom had hoed them up, shook out the roots, and gotten rid of every one of them.

Have you ever noticed that the harder you work, the “luckier” you get?  The Midwest work ethic has a good reputation nation wide.  Employers look for people who grew up here because they know that hard work is part of the culture of the region.  Part of the reason for the strong emphasis on diligence is the influence of our churches.

The word of God is replete with passages urging us to give an honest days work for an honest days pay.  For example, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for a human master.” Colossians 3:23   When we framework in that context we know that we are working out of gratitude for what God has given us.  We are working to provide for our families needs, and to give back toward God’s purposes, and to do our duty as good citizens and helpful neighbors.  We work to provide money for ourselves and our families.

Beyond our regular jobs, Christians are also called to work in God’s harvest of souls. “Then He said to His disciples.  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Therefore I beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." Matthew 9:37

The Midwest work ethic and God’s harvest of souls might both be in jeopardy of disappearing with declining church and Sunday school attendance.  Children learn by example.  If they observe hard working adults, and are given responsibilities of their own, they learn to work hard, but if they do not see adults who also work for God, they do not learn the true value of work.