The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 2:2-3, “And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

Generally speaking, those of us who have work look forward to the days when we will have none. But those, who have no work, look expectingly for it. We were made for work, and work was made for us.

The word “work” is mentioned in Scripture 574 times. God did His initial work of Creation, and then He rested.

He created man to work. That’s what He meant when He directed Adam to care for the Garden of Eden. It would have been easy, had Adam not sinned. But he did; and the burden of the otherwise enjoyable work prompted the need for strength.

As we engage in work (???????? melakah, occupation, work) we are doing exactly what the LORD intends. He leads us in various ways into the kind of work that is best suited for us. Fast forward from Creation to 1705 BC, the era of Joseph, and interestingly enough, the Bible uses the same word for Joseph’s work (Gen. 39:11) that was used for the LORD’s. Thus, we can conclude that the work we are doing is precisely what the LORD intends for us to do.

There is yet another Hebrew word for work () ????????maaseh, a deed, accomplishment). We are always heartened when the tasks before us are completed, and on time and in good manner. Thus, there is joy in the work the LORD has set before us. Work is of far greater value than the financial reward we receive. Especially is that so, when we remember that we are doing His work.

The LORD’s rewards will be like trophies for a game well played –only far greater! Not everything we will be asked to do in this life will be pleasant. There is a Day of rest and reward coming. So, remember to view it as His work and attend to it with diligence and good will. Just hearing Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” will be more than sufficient on that day.

We are praying for you as you work,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”