Exodus 39

Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭39‬:‭32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The work on the tabernacle was completed.  With all the people working together, it is estimated that it took about 6 months to build the tabernacle.  Whatever work we are involved in, we should make sure that we “work willingly at whatever we do, as though we were working for the Lord rather than for people” (Colossians 3:23).  The Bible has a lot to say about working hard, being disciplined, and fighting any tendency towards laziness.  The Christian work ethic we derive from the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments leaves no room for apathetic attitudes or half-hearted work.  Solomon advises us to “Go to the ant…Consider its ways and be wise” (Proverbs 6:6).  No one has to stand over an ant’s shoulder to prod it along.  Threats are not needed.  Like the rest of God’s insects, the ant is an industrious self-starter.  “It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Proverbs 6:7-8).  The Apostle Paul equates idleness with sin, going so far as to say that we shouldn’t even associate with a Christian who is idle or lazy (2 Thessalonians 3:6).  Paul points to his own example and tells how he, Silas, and Timothy “were not idle” but instead “with toil and labor we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-8).  Of course, scheduled times of rest and refreshment were built into the pattern of creation, but a life of leisure was never the goal.  God made us to be creators, thinkers and workers.   Instead of being discouraged about past failures, or any previous patterns of sluggish work ethic, why not pray for a fresh start and for God’s encouragement?   Then approach the next thing on your schedule or to-do-list with enthusiasm and a sense of purpose.