Hard Work is Good for Me

by Tiffany
from Virtuous Daughters, September 2008~Volume 8, Number 6

From 1865 to 1900, America experienced a remarkable triumph of free enterprise. Our country saw the fruits of diligent willing work coupled with liberty and responsibility. The Protestant work ethic penetrated many, many lives. They viewed their ability to work as a tremendous blessing and recognized that labor is a way to fulfill life responsibility and to glorify God. Nehemiah 4:6 says, “The people had a mind to work.”

​Some individuals have argued that work is a curse based on Genesis 3. But you must remember that the ground was cursed—it would bring forth thorns and thistles. Man would have to sweat and even possibly experience pain to get his food (thorns and thistles). Work is a refreshing, invigorating blessing to everyone who has the ability to take part. If we refrained from it, the ultimate result would be devastation and destruction.
The book of Proverbs is brimming with verses that compare the diligent man to the slothful man. Here are just a few to whet your appetite for hard work: “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.” (12:27) “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” (13:11) “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” (10:4)

From an early age, my parents taught us kids that we are a family unit and to function properly, we must all pull together and do our share of work. Without giving you the impression that I am a ceaseless ball of energy or that I’ve never complained about my chores, I’d like to honestly insist that I enjoy hard work.

In our family, everyone has chores, even our five-year-old. Although his responsibilities are lighter, he is not exempted from our obvious need of laborers. He knows that he is needed to help the household operate smoothly. All of us are! And we can learn to enjoy taking our part.

Sometimes, when I feel tired, I think about this: What if I were confined to a wheelchair or was physically unable to do these things? I am very grateful that God has blessed me with the ability to work.

Simply put, hard work makes us feel good. After a day of outside clean-up or even inside chores, don’t you always sleep well? And don’t you love to wake up to a clean home and a clean yard? One of the best things we can do to improve the health of our bodies is to participate in diligent labor. It is excellent exercise!

The virtuous woman is not a lazy, slothful woman. She delights in ongoing industry, as seen in Proverbs 31. She is content with the tasks and responsibilities entrusted to her, learns to enjoy them, and is an asset to her home and family.

​Someone has said that to be happy, we should not do what we like, but like what we do! I wholeheartedly agree! We will be working for the rest of our lives. The question is, how will we respond to it? Should we not exhibit grateful attitudes, because after all, we are capable of completing these duties. We will be so much happier if we learn to love our work than if we choose to despise it.