QT 26 Nov 14, Ecc 9:10, Work hard!

Eccl 9:8 (ESV) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might,  for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

NOTE: This is wisdom under the sun. It is good and useful but also ignores wisdom from above the sun. The NT provides the fuller meaning in Colossians 3:23,24 "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward." The NT is fuller because it seems to take in the spiritual side of work for the Lord as well, since it promises a future reward as part of our promised inheritance. But both verses point out the key principle -- work hard and do a good job. This is such a key concept to life. In Prov 22:29 is a verse I've seen played out many times in my own life, "Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men." Good work has a reward, it is noticed. In this day of distractions, this truth is even more important. We must be careful to not grow lazy through all the distractions, but do a good job at work. Not only because we will be noticed at work, but more importantly because we are really serving the Lord.