"Work"

If you want it, go and get it,

That’s what my Daddy said,

Get up and go work for it,

There’s no future in that bed.

His plan was not so easy,

Some thought it was too much,

‘Cause if your eyes were open,

You were doing chores and such.

When I was real little,

I learned my work to do,

The kids who lived in town, y’all,

Didn’t know the things I knew.

‘Bout horses and the cattle,

And feed and giving shots,

Branding and castrating,

Dehorning, planting crops.

I thought it was unfair then,

‘Cause they all got to play,

And I was out there working,

Every single day.

Except of course on Sunday,

‘Cause we had church to do,

And sometimes on a Saturday,

Take off to go hunt, too.

You can’t really imagine,

How I felt when I,

Heard some felt entitled,

To get things without try.

They thought they should be given,

What was owed to them,

Because their dead ancestors,

Were mistreated way back when.

I couldn’t understand it,

And really I still can’t,

I’ve seen folks even riot,

And raise their voice in rant.

And, yes, all men are equal,

And every life has worth,

I believe in freedom,

And justice on this earth.

But seems to me you’re equal,

If you have the chance,

To go and make your living,

And free to join the dance.

But if you will not earn it,

Outcome’s not guaranteed,

It’s just the chance you’re given,

And not results, you see.

Revive that old work ethic,

Say it loud and long,

Get up and go work for it,

With that you can’t go wrong.

“Those unwilling to work will not get to eat…” (2 Thessalonians 3:10, NLT)

Work is a sacred assignment from God. The benefits of good, hard work are countless. Before sin entered the picture, God tasked Adam and Eve with taking care of the garden. That’s the first job mentioned in scripture and it was God-given. The spirit of entitlement competes with this whole notion, and champions the idea that some things should be given based upon past or present grievances. The sue-happy litigation culture is a daily example. More and more commercials are from lawyers encouraging people to sue because of a bad drug, or drug companies trying to sell you a new one and go ask your doctor if he can prescribe it to you! I work in a ministry that trains people to re-enter the job market. But one thing’s for sure: our interns can get nowhere if they don’t learn to work. It may be a hard lesson, but the rewards are great.

Lord, teach us to do our work, thankfully and with integrity, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Teal Blake, tealblake.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Teal, and God bless you.