Title: The pleasure of working
Text / John 4:34, John 5:17
1. Introduction
It is defined in the Korean dictionary as <work is the use of one's body or head in order to achieve or achieve something>. There are two types of <work> in English: <Work> and <Labor>. <Labor> refers to work that one has to do in order to live, or something that someone forces them to do, and <Work> refers to work that is rewarding and motivated.
I heard this story. One day a man died. When he wakes up, he finds himself lying in a very luxurious and nice bed. Thinking that he was thirsty, suddenly a beautiful maid commanded the water. I opened the window and saw a beautiful garden and fountain, and a Rolls-Royce car parked in front of it. When asked what the hell is all this, the servant said that all of these are yours. This man was so happy. Oh, how wonderful heaven is! I was thrilled. Anything this person wants is OK! One morning after some dreamy days, this man wanted to drive his Rolls Roy down the river and run freely. As the man got into the car and was about to drive, a servant came running. <No. I will not drive> <No, I will not today!> <No!> <I personally cannot drive!> <No> The man burst into anger. <No, what kind of heaven is this! What kind of heaven is it that I can't even do what I want!> Then the servant said, <This is hell, not heaven! It's a hell where you can own whatever you want, but you can't work!>
It is not a blessing to play and eat without work, but a blessing to work hard with meaning and pride. If you look at the English expression in the text John 5:17, it says <My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working>. It's Work, not Labor.
Gorky expressed this beautifully by saying, “If work is fun, life is paradise, if work becomes duty, life is hell”. Today, I would like to share grace while meditating on <The Joy of Working>.
2. It's fun to work and get wealth
Everyone is happy when they have wealth. Those who work have wealth. What all the rich people in the world have in common is that they are all hard working people. We all know how hard they worked. Jacob became rich as a result of Jacob's hard work for 20 years, embracing the heat during the day and the cold at night (Genesis 31:40). It is a pleasure to have wealth for those who work hard.
3. When I work, I am happy because I am healthy.
When my body hurts, everything is annoying and annoying. When my body is healthy, everything can be enjoyable and pleasant. Not having a job seems like a good thing, but in reality it's just painful. The grandmothers and grandfathers who come to Seoul apartments get old and get sick easily. Why? That's because work is gone. So, many people are looking for work and returning home.
When I listen to the sweaty work of a farmer, the way I study with the lights on until late at night, or the roaring sound of a hammer at a construction site, the power I am working on is suddenly transferred to me, and I can feel the energy welling up within myself without me even realizing it. There is always an unusual energy around the work site. That power makes people strong.
4. It is fun to work because wisdom and knowledge arise.
Confucius said that learning from the beginning of the Analects is a great pleasure. How great is the joy of knowing and realizing? Archimedes, an ancient Greek mathematician, was so happy and delighted that he realized the <Principle of Buoyancy> in the bathtub and, without even knowing that he was naked, <Eureka! Eureka! It is said that he ran around the streets shouting “Eureka!”. <I got it! That's it, that's it!>. The joy of learning and the joy of enlightenment are so great.
This time, I gained a lot of knowledge and enlightenment through the making and distribution of the <Fountain of the Word> book, and I enjoyed meeting and getting to know many people. Only those who work get a lot of knowledge and enlightenment not only from the work itself, but also from the process of the work. It is fun to gain such knowledge and enlightenment while working.
5. It's fun to work when your personality grows into a noble and beautiful person.
Maslow said that the greatest happiness of man lies in self-actualization. Self-actualization is the best affirmation of one's life and the completion of self-growth. For humans, this is the greatest pleasure. This joy of self-growth can only come from hard work.
People who run best in a field can feel a certain elegance that is the same even though their fields are different. The masters of theology, the masters of music, the masters of sports, and the masters of literature have their own peculiar atmosphere. Being the best in a field means that you have worked blood and tears in that field. In the process of such hard work, that person has acquired a noble character and dignity. When you work, you have the joy of self-growth.
Today, the Lord says, “My Father is working until now, and I am working John 5:17.” I bless you in the name of the Lord that you receive great blessings from the joy of working.