Hard Work

Paul Harvey was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio. He broadcast News and Comment on mornings and mid-days on weekdays and at noon on Saturdays and also his famous The Rest of the Story segments. From 1952 to 2008, his programs reached as many as 24 million people per week. Paul Harvey News was carried on 1,200 radio stations, on 400 American Forces Network stations, and in 300 newspapers. (Wikipedia)

Good day to each of you reading the above article entitled Hard Work. Before I start, here are few of Life Truths:

• Nothing is worse than the moment in an argument when you realize that you were wrong.
• How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
• Map quest really needs to start their directions on #5, I’m sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
• Bad decisions make good stories.
• I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
• Shirts get dirty, underwear gets dirty, pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
• How many times is it appropriate to say “what?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear or understand a word they said?

And, even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and pinning the tail on the donkey—but I’d bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

Ah, life’s truths, just a few to brighten your day in our turbulent world.

Here is a search term for a 4 minute video of Paul Harvey—PLEASE LISTEN

Paul Harvey | America Was Built by Hard Work – YouTube

In this clip Paul Harvey discusses how hard work-built America. It was the labor of the tradesmen who formed the America that we see today. The hard work of tradesmen such as the carpenter, mason, iron and steel workers, machinist, mill workers, coal miners, factory linemen, farmer, etc. that laid the foundation of America. It is people like these tradesmen who maintain our great society today.

America, land of the free and home of the brave and it took men and women to build this great land. In fact, God fearing men and women who were given a vision to “go west” and conquer lands, rivers, climates, terrains, and elements before they would settle.

You see, there were no handouts, no programs, no unemployment nor welfare, for if you did not work, you did not eat. But people did eat for they wanted to work, no matter what type of job, and they believed in loving the Lord thy God with all thy soul and with all thy mind and to love thy neighbor.

Preachers of old would teach that when I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet; all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the path of the seas. Psalm 8:3-8 (NIV). Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening. Psalm 104:23 (NIV).

Hard work produced much fruit for the worker, for the worker honored the Lord with his wealth and with his first fruits of all his crops so his barns would be filled to overflowing and vats would brim over with new wine. This was God’s promise to the hard worker if he would follow God’s laws and work by the sweat of the brow.

Hard work provided a strong, moral character in a Christian man for he would not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it was in his power to act. He would not say to his neighbor, come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”—when you now have it with you.

When reading the book of Proverbs, the subject of hard work is very preeminent as well as being lazy. In fact, laziness or the word, “sluggard” is used in Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV) Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come like a vagrant and scarcity like a beggar.

Turn to the proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 10:4 (NIV) Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Solomon referred in two more chapters on the subject of lazy hands and wasting time versus being productive, to grow and serve God. Look at Proverbs 13:4 (NIV) The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. In essence, do not put off until tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

The reward of hard work is simply telling the world what you have done after you did it as said in Proverbs 14:23 (NIV) All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. Solomon reiterates his point in Proverbs 24:27 (NIV) Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. Carry out your work in its proper order.

Hard work began with the fall of Adam, for God said, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. Genesis 3:19 (NIV)

Was hard work exempt from anyone? Turn to 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (NIV) For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some of you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

Paul gave each of us this simple rule– “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” Hard work builds character, strength, proper order, peace of mind, satisfaction, and the desire to please God. How?

Hard work produced much fruit for the worker for the worker honored the Lord with his wealth and with his first fruits of all his crops so his barns would be filled to overflowing and vats would brim over with new wine. This was God’s promise to the hard worker if he would follow God’s laws and work by the sweat of the brow.

Hard work provided a strong, moral character in a Christian man for he would not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it was in his power to act. He would not say to his neighbor, Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”—when you now have it with you.

Let us Thank God for all that he does and for all that he provides and bless him with all our hearts, souls and minds.