Take This Job And ... Love It
The Christian Blog that gets you thinking...
By Debra Torres
If you know your Bible, you’re probably familiar with “big name” folk like Moses, David and Paul.
And, you may also know what work they were famous for.
Moses, for example, brought the Israelites out of Egypt and right to the edge of the Promised Land.
David was a great king who led God’s people victoriously through countless battles and Paul spread the message of salvation to the early Christian church.
God used each of these men to accomplish great tasks for mankind.
But does the name Bezalel ring a bell? Does the work he did for the Lord have a place engraved in your memory? Probably not.
This might be because we don’t have records of Bezalel fighting in battle, leading people out of captivity or doing some other prominent thing. But that’s okay, because Bezalel’s work was for God and not for man.
A few months back, I decided to start on page one in the Bible again and make my way through the Old Testament reading a chapter a day.
If you know your Bible, you’re probably familiar with “big name” folk like Moses, David and Paul.
And, you may also know what work they were famous for.
Moses, for example, brought the Israelites out of Egypt and right to the edge of the Promised Land.
David was a great king who led God’s people victoriously through countless battles and Paul spread the message of salvation to the early Christian church.
God used each of these men to accomplish great tasks for mankind.
But does the name Bezalel ring a bell? Does the work he did for the Lord have a place engraved in your memory? Probably not.
This might be because we don’t have records of Bezalel fighting in battle, leading people out of captivity or doing some other prominent thing. But that’s okay, because Bezalel’s work was for God and not for man.
A few months back, I decided to start on page one in the Bible again and make my way through the Old Testament reading a chapter a day.
Having read through these books before, I knew that although there were some really good stories in there, there was also some pretty dry stuff I had to get through.
I mean, chapters upon chapters dedicated to lineages, priestly garment making and animal sacrifice tends to make my mind wander. How much farther till I'd get to the good stuff? I’d wonder.
I mean, chapters upon chapters dedicated to lineages, priestly garment making and animal sacrifice tends to make my mind wander. How much farther till I'd get to the good stuff? I’d wonder.
But you know, it’s just like God to offer a fresh message in even in the driest of material. And you’ll hear it too, if your heart is open to what the Spirit has to say.
As I read through the book of Exodus, I found myself enduring some pretty specific instructions on tabernacle building. God is a God of detail – that’s for sure, and he was very explicit with Moses when it came to the intricacies of building his tent and dressing his priests.
Interesting enough, here is where I found my nugget of insight as I read about the master craftsman – Bezalel and his team. You see, after God gave Moses his complete instructions on tabernacle design, he told him to go and find, “skilled craftsmen to do the work.”
Now Bezalel was more than just a guy with a hammer. In Exodus 35: 31-33 it says that the Lord chose him and “filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.”
The chapter even goes on to say that God gave Bezalel the ability to teach others – who were also filled with skill. And so a great work was begun.
As I read through the book of Exodus, I found myself enduring some pretty specific instructions on tabernacle building. God is a God of detail – that’s for sure, and he was very explicit with Moses when it came to the intricacies of building his tent and dressing his priests.
Interesting enough, here is where I found my nugget of insight as I read about the master craftsman – Bezalel and his team. You see, after God gave Moses his complete instructions on tabernacle design, he told him to go and find, “skilled craftsmen to do the work.”
Now Bezalel was more than just a guy with a hammer. In Exodus 35: 31-33 it says that the Lord chose him and “filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts.”
The chapter even goes on to say that God gave Bezalel the ability to teach others – who were also filled with skill. And so a great work was begun.
Can you imagine how the men and women felt who constructed God’s dwelling place with the hard acacia wood, who melted the gold for the Ark of the Covenant, and who spun the cloth that covered it all?
Honored, I’d say.
Sometimes we may feel like our jobs aren’t the most important – or we don’t get the recognition we feel that we deserve.
Honored, I’d say.
Sometimes we may feel like our jobs aren’t the most important – or we don’t get the recognition we feel that we deserve.
_ Maybe we’re not the top dog in the office yet, we keep missing employee of the month, or we just don’t get that pat on the back that we think we need.
But I think we need to take a step back and remember workers like Bezalel and his team. These folks were clearly appointed for a task by God, and they went on to perform it with excellence. Why? Well it’s simple really. They were doing it for God.
Recently, we had some remodeling done in our family room. It was amazing for me to watch the construction workers and flooring specialists do their work. Paying attention to the details, they transformed what once was a dreary, outdated family room into a bright and cheery living space. They were truly master craftsmen, offering their unique skills to beautify our home.
When I was a girl, there was a popular county song out that had a not so nice suggestion on what we should do with our jobs. I’m doing it a little rewrite today: “Take this Job and Love It.”
If God chooses us for job and gives us the skill to accomplish the task, I think we should follow the example of Bezalel and do it today for his glory.
Here are some Bible verses that'll help you on your journey:
Colossians 3:23-24 New Living Translation
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
Colossians 3:17 New International Version
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Exodus 36:1
1 "Bezalel and Oholiab, along with everyone whom God has given the skill and know-how for making everything involved in the worship of the Sanctuary as commanded by God, are to start to work."
But I think we need to take a step back and remember workers like Bezalel and his team. These folks were clearly appointed for a task by God, and they went on to perform it with excellence. Why? Well it’s simple really. They were doing it for God.
Recently, we had some remodeling done in our family room. It was amazing for me to watch the construction workers and flooring specialists do their work. Paying attention to the details, they transformed what once was a dreary, outdated family room into a bright and cheery living space. They were truly master craftsmen, offering their unique skills to beautify our home.
When I was a girl, there was a popular county song out that had a not so nice suggestion on what we should do with our jobs. I’m doing it a little rewrite today: “Take this Job and Love It.”
If God chooses us for job and gives us the skill to accomplish the task, I think we should follow the example of Bezalel and do it today for his glory.
Here are some Bible verses that'll help you on your journey:
Colossians 3:23-24 New Living Translation
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
Colossians 3:17 New International Version
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Exodus 36:1
1 "Bezalel and Oholiab, along with everyone whom God has given the skill and know-how for making everything involved in the worship of the Sanctuary as commanded by God, are to start to work."