Mensa Otabil - God's Word to You
- Watch
- Donate
Isaiah 65, verses 21 and 22. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat. The days of the Bible were very uncertain days. You know, it was during that period of time when nations dispossessed other nations.
So you’ll be there just farming your land or building your nation, and another building army comes to conquer you, takes away everything you have. They take away your properties, take away your clothes, and sometimes take away the people of the land. So it was a very, very difficult time for people to survive, and this is the world in which God is speaking to us.
Many times, you know, we also feel that way in life: that I work for all my years, but I never get the results. I put in all the hard work; somebody gets a promotion. I raise my children, and I’m not even sure whether I’ll be there to see them grow. We go through uncertainty, wondering whether we will see the fruit and the results of the things we work for. But that is what God speaks to us about. God speaks to His children not to be afraid of their reward and the reward of their labor. That when we put in the work, God will protect our results; God will protect our fruits so that we can possess and make use of the things that He has blessed us with.
So He speaks to them and says, «You shall build,» or «You will build,» and that is something we must be committed to. You know, you can’t be cynical in life, saying, " I don’t even get credit, so I’m not going to build; I’m not going to work hard; I’m not going to put in the effort because somebody else will take the results.» Don’t allow your life to be pushed to such a fringe that you are afraid to put in your hard work. He says, «You will build,» and somebody must say, «I will build.» No matter how hard it is in this country at this time, you will build. And then He says, «You will plant.» Also, you will plant; you will nurture.
And then He says, «When you build, you will inhabit what you have built.» And when you plant, you will eat the fruit of what you have planted. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about that: that God rewards my hard work, that God rewards your hard work, and that God rewards our hard work. That when we put in the work, God will cause us to see the results-not only to see them, but to partake of the fruit of our labor. So for all of you parents who are out there working, raising your children, and wondering what will become of these children you are planting, God says you will see the good fruit; your children will turn out well.
If you’re running a business, it may be a difficult time for you, building your business, planting your business, going through the topsy-turvy, and you wonder, «Is this thing really going to work out?» It will work out; you are planting, and you will eat the fruit. Whatever effort you’re putting into life, God assures you that you’re not planting for another to eat the fruit, nor building for another to inhabit. You will be the one who enjoys your labor. And that is for all of you who work in places, and maybe you don’t own the business you work in, somebody’s business.
You wonder, «Oh, when I work, the results go to somebody.» No, it goes to you because God will let you be discovered, and He will recompense you. He will reward you; He will show you mercy, and He will show you favor. Give of your heart; do the best work with sincerity. Work with honesty; work hard because God says you will be the one who enjoys the reward of what you have worked for. And I pray that will be your blessing in Jesus' name.
Let’s pray. Say with me: Heavenly Father, I affirm your promises to me. I will build; I will inhabit; I will plant; I will eat. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.