Do you ever stop to think how powerful advertising is? It takes a finished product, and it dresses it up to attract our eye. Advertising appeals to our wishes and desires and tempts us to make a purchase or obtain something in some way. It’s quite deceiving though because it often dismisses the process taken to derive those results. We scroll on our technology devices, drooling over images of decorated homes, beautiful construction, nice clothes, trim and fit figures, or lush and pristine landscaping. But we never see the images of the hard work that was put forth over weeks, months, or perhaps an entire year to achieve the desired outcome. We only see the end result. When we never see the hard work, sweat, and tears that went in to achieving that end result, it cheapens the finished product and lessens its worth. We see pretty pictures of things we would like to have for ourselves like a clean home, or a fit body, or a mature faith – but we aren’t willing to put in the work to get those results. Instead, we covet and feel sorry for our self.
Genesis 2:2-3, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
God set the example for us with work. He worked and He took pride in His work. Effort was put forth. He could have snapped His fingers and bypassed a process of creation, but the Bible doesn’t say that. The Bible says He “worked.” Not only did God set the example to work, He also put Adam in the garden to work.
Genesis 2:15, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”
Here’s the thing: even in the most amazing paradise of Eden, work still existed. Maintenance was needed. Nothing was automatic or given without effort needed to ensure its continuance. How silly of us to want the desired results, but not want or expect to put in the time and effort to achieve them. Friend, there’s no shortcut.
Proverbs 13:4, “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.”
We may have a desire for many things, but are we willing to apply ourselves or put in the work required to make the desire a reality? Nothing is free. It always takes work. But too many times, we look around at the “finished product” and fail to acknowledge the time and work that was required.
We see the new home construction but take for granted the workers.
We see the clean and organized house or decorated house but disregard the prep time.
We see the fruit of other believers, but we don’t even consider the time they spend getting right with the Lord – praying, reading their bible, being doers of God’s Word and not just hearers only.
We see someone’s paycheck but forget that they spent time learning that skill and putting in the hours to earn their check.
We see someone’s hard work, but we fail to see their sacrifice.
Ecclesiastes 5:12, “The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.”
You may not always see it, but there is a joy that comes from doing work. When you have put in the effort and earned your money, be it a lot or not as much as you’d like, it feels good. Honest work and honest pay give a working man appreciation for his possessions and he sleeps soundly at night. On the other hand, a rich man who is never satisfied with money loses sleep due to his envy and desire.
When you see a manicured lawn, don’t forget that someone spent hours every week working on it – mowing, trimming, fertilizing, pulling weeds, planting seed, watering, etc.
When you see beautiful flower beds or a bountiful garden, don’t forget the time spent tilling, planting, preparing, and harvesting.
Instead of considering the time, money, and effort that goes into things, we often choose to covet and envy the finished result. We tend to render it “free” as if it’s deserved to be delivered in its complete form. That’s what makes coveting and envy so easy. It completely dismisses the idea of hard work and that something is earned. Instead, it just wants to take and have without strings attached or any other responsibility or obligation tied to it.
That’s why diet pills are popular. We covet the trim and fit bodies of others, and we want it now. We don’t want to have to work for it. We don’t want to practice discipline and self-control. We want to have immediate results and we want the highest reward right now.
Covetousness and envy are deceiving. They try to convince you there’s an easier way – a short cut. They have deception at their core and their mission and goal is to make you miserable instead of content. It’s not wrong to want to be healthy and it’s not wrong to want nice things. But what is the motive of your heart?
Acts 20:35, “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Don’t take shortcuts. You miss the rewards. When something is free and given to you, and you didn’t work for it, you discount its worth and value. You miss the blessing that comes with the sacrifice. And friends, the blessing is so much greater than the sacrifice.
