Confessions of a Church: Not in Vain
The Psalm writer wrote: Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received. This is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.
This is the word of the LORD.
You fathers toil don't you?
Early mornings, late evenings.
Backbreaking physical labor, complex problem solving, and the headache of satisfying difficult customers marks your days.
I haven't even mentioned the difficult task of raising your children in the midst of the collapse of Western civilization.
Loving your sons and daughters.
Disciplining them.
Teaching them.
Playing with them.
Praying for them.
Protecting them.
When you lay your head down at night, having poured yourself out faithfully all day, and you look back upon the work of your hands, is it sometimes tempting to wonder:
What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
When the job you had to do was a very difficult, tedious job, and for all your hard work, it just didn't turn out like you had hoped.
When that complex problem presented itself and everyone looked to you for a solution, all you could manage to contribute wound up making the problem worse.
When that difficult customer will not be satisfied no matter how far backwards you manage to bend over, pushing you to the limits of your human capacity to love your neighbor.
What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? Do you ever wonder that? You are seeking to be faithful, glorify God, and yet everything you do seems to sometimes just turn to rubbish.
Nowhere in life does this dilemma present itself more succinctly than in fatherhood.
You have been born again, awakened to the responsibilities of raising your children, of training them up in the way they should go.
Yet it seems sometimes that for all your best efforts, it isn't enough.
Perhaps in loving and teaching them you have recognized that your children need limits placed upon them with regard to television, the cell phone, or video games, so you set up boundaries.
Boundaries which are crossed over and over with the aid of your children's grandparents, their friends, or even their own mother. What profit is there in the toiling?
Maybe you are striving to set a tone in your home, one of order, and not chaos. You know that your children will thrive on a routine, and so you as head of your home, the father, make some changes to the family schedule. Changes which seem to get blown up by in-laws, unforeseen occurrences in life, and indwelt sin in the home. "What profit is there?", you are tempted to think.
You're striving to be faithful, and it all goes to dung. What...profit.....is there?
If my favorite Civil War General were here right now, a loving father himself, he would answer the question of "What profit is there?" with this:
"Duty is ours, consequences are God's"
Men, fathers, you have a duty before God to work hard, make wise decisions, love your wives and children, and lead your home. As you do these things with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you labor not in vain.
Men, as you toil at work and as you discipline and train your children by faith, the Father from whom all Fatherhood gets its name will not fail you. His promises are not slack.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
— Hebrews 10:23
He has remembered His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
— Psalm 105:8
Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
— Deuteronomy 7:9
What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
— James 1:12
Let us repent of where we toil without faith. If you are able at this time, please kneel as we pray.
Heavenly Father,
Thankfully You remember our frames, that we are but dust. We toil, and strive, and far too often, in our own strength. Rather than trusting You and Your promises, we regularly fall into a snare as we trust in our own wisdom and past performances, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought. Father, please forgive us for our arrogance. Please forgive us for laboring in our own strength. Please strengthen us men and fathers as we seek to lead our homes, work to provide, and love our wives and children.
Please be with the wives and children. Help the wives to submit to their husbands as they seek to honor You. Help the children to see the love their fathers have for them as they are disciplined, and respond in a way which glorifies You.
It's in Jesus's Name we pray, amen.
Please stand and listen to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to his church:
Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.
To all those who thus repent and seek Jesus Christ for their salvation, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lift up your hearts!
(From the 06/20/2021 liturgy of Sovereign King Church written by Aaron Sabie.)