September 7
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THE WISE AND FOOLISH AND FUTILITY OF WORK
A poem by ILMA
I said “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness
For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark”
Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish share the same fate
Both will die. So, I said to myself, what’s the value of all my wisdom?
This is all so meaningless”; the wise and the foolish both die
The wise will not be remembered any longer than the fool
In the days to come, both will be forgotten, so I came to hate life
Because everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
I learned to hate my hard work here for I must leave everything I’ve earned
And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish?
Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work
How meaningless! So, I gave up questioning the value of hard work in this world.
I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy life and be satisfied with work
Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God
For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him?
God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him
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MEMORY VERSE
So, I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. – Ecclesiastes 2:24
Read: Ecclesiastes 2
King Solomon presents nothing different between the wise and the foolish. They both end the same. He also emphasizes the futility of work and how important it is for us to enjoy life and our work for everything comes from the Lord and he is the one who gives wisdom and blessings to those who please him.
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REFLECTION
• Why does the world think that wise people are better of than those who are foolish? What do you think is God’s perspective on this?
Tag Archives: work
WORK IS VANITY Poem Devotional
September 3
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Has not the Lord of Heaven’s Armies promised that the wealth of nations will turn to ashes? They work so hard but all in vain. – Habakkuk 2:13(NLT)
WORK IS VANITY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you work to gain wealth
It isn’t beneficial for your spiritual health
It is working in vain when you do it for your gain
It is a form of idolatry instead of giving God praise.
To work for your own advantage isn’t really a treasure
It compromises your growth when you seek pleasure
To work so hard for self-seeking reason is vanity
To serve the Lord and others benefits humanity.
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Our world today focuses much on performance. Each person’s value is proven by how hard they work and how much wealth they have incurred. Here in North America, people marginalize those who don’t work or those who earn money. You become worthless in the world’s standard if you don’t contribute to the country’s wealth gains. When I moved to Canada, it was difficult to continue my teaching and art careers. I was looked down by others because I didn’t earn much income as I did back in the Philippines.
The bible says that the Lord looks down on those who pursue wealth for personal gains. He said that wealth of nations will turn to ashes and the work they put on such worldly pursuits are all vain.
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PRAYER
Lord, help me to focus on depending on you instead of proving my worth through work.
REFLECTION
Why do you think the bible says that work can be a form of vanity?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
THE ONLY WORK GOD REQUIRES Poem Devotional
April 6________________________________________
This is the only work God wants from you. Believe in the one he has sent. – John 6:29(NLT)
THE ONLY WORK GOD REQUIRES
A poem and essay by ILMA
Do you fully trust the Lord that he will deliver you from sin?
Do you do works of the flesh or go back and forth where you’ve been?
The only work God requires from you is to trust him completely
There is no need for performing, he grants us grace freely.
If you trust and believe in Jesus, you will surely receive
If you doubt and have little faith, you will live in fear
Believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and Savior
He will redeem you and give you blessings and favor.
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Work is defined as an activity in which one exerts strength or faculties to do or perform something. It is a sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result. God gave us gifts and abilities so that we can contribute in the building of his kingdom. We are asked to love and care for others if we love God because that is the only way we can manifest our love for the Lord. When work becomes focused on self-gain, it becomes a form of idolatry. We were all designed for God’s purpose, not our own. The only work God really wants from you is to believe in the one he has sent.
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PRAYER
Lord, help us to work at strengthening our faith.
REFLECTION
How can “work” be considered an idol or a form of bondage?
For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
WORK WITH YOUR HANDS
November 18________________________________________
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands. -1 Thessalonians 4:11(NLT)
WORK WITH YOUR HANDS
A poem and essay by ILMA
Live a quiet life and mind your own business
It is one of the keys to peace and happiness
Make it your goal to work with your hands
It eases your soul and life’s demands.
Use your hands to build and repair
You can create many things that are rare
Without hands, you cannot write or even eat
Without it, you are not able to get things or reach.
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Have you ever imagined what it would be like without your hands? How difficult it would be to write or even browse through a book. Hands is only a part of the body, but without it, we will miss out on many things that we usually do in life. I come from a family where I was surrounded with people who mostly worked with their hands. My Aunt was a seamstress and my mother loved to clean and do crafts. My father loves geology and would always be picking and inspecting rocks and soil. My grandfather was a fisherman and a farmer too. My grandmother cooked a lot and all these things require to have hands. I became the first painter in our family and the first guitarist as well. The bible tells us to make it our goal to live quiet lives and work with our hands.
PRAYER
Thank you Lord for my hands.
REFLECTION
How do you think working with your hands can bring peace?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com
WORK WILLINGLY Poem Devotional
October 27________________________________________
Work willingly whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord, rather than for people. –Colossians 3:23 (NLT)
WORK WILLINGLY
A poem and essay by ILMA
When you do things for others or you’re at work
Remember that you are doing it for the Lord
If you do it for Jesus, you will be reverent
If you do it for other reasons, you will act different.
Work hard willingly; be diligent and patient
God made you in his image; he is perfect and excellent
Imitate Christ when you work so you can be efficient
He wouldn’t want you to be mediocre or deficient.
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There are many mediocre and inefficient people in our world. The lamest thing we can do is to whine about our bosses or the company and not perform the job excellently as we are expected to do. Another sad thing to watch is when people only count the time so they can clock out and come in late for work. This is mediocrity at its best.
If you were the employer or company owner and all you see and hear from your employees are complaints but never get the work done, you probably would fire these toxic people.
The bible puts so much premium on integrity and hates dishonesty. Paul said to the Colossians to work willingly whatever we are doing as though we are working for the Lord, rather than for people.
PRAYER
Lord, help me to never complain but be pro-active.
REFLECTION
Why is it important to think that you work for God rather than for people?
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For more testimonials about God’s word, please go to YouTube and type ILMA’s poem devotional or go to www.ilmaarts.com posts. To receive emails of my poem devotionals, email me at ILMA.ARTS.STUDIO@gmail.com