(This writing was unexpectedly birthed from today’s SNACK TIME video short shown above. )

Jesus said, “It is Finished.” (John 19:30)

What was finished?

The work that Jesus Christ came here to earth to do.

As we are born here on earth and grow up in our respective countries, states, counties, cities, and neighborhoods, where we learn, I find it amazing that we are never really taught.

Let me explain what I mean…

Did you know that Jesus learned a trade?

His earthly father (stepfather) was a carpenter.

Yet, that is not the work that Jesus said that He had to do while here on earth.

On more than one occasion, Jesus said that He came to do the will of His Father. (John 4:34; 5:36; 9:4 )

The mind of flesh would have said, “Then, where are the chairs and tables?”

Keep in mind that, back then, they did not recognize Jesus as being the son of God.

“Wasn’t He the son of the carpenter?” (Matthew 13:55).

“Isn’t Mary his mother, and aren’t his brothers and sisters here among us?” ( Mark 6:3)

While we can think that we know something, I must say that sometimes we need to have the reinforcement of experience. Reminders are definitely faithful.

Here is one reinforced experience: Luke 2:41-49 [paraphrased, Jodi’s Note version]

One day, Jesus went missing as a child.

That had to be a scary experience for Joseph and Mary, who had to return to Jerusalem to see if they could find him.

When they found him, the response they received to their reprimand was, “Did you not know that I would be in the house of my Father?”

Now, what is worth considering closely is this:

Luke 2:50 says that they did not understand the statement that He spoke to them.

Why not?

Did they forget the miracle of His birth and how He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit?

Nevertheless, we are told that Jesus returned with them and subjected himself to them, to his parents.

What a lesson!

What is the lesson?

Knowing who you are.

Jesus said that He was in the house of ‘His Father’.

He was a Son who knew who His True Father was.

He grew up under the guidance and instruction of his parents, learning a trade (the family BUSINESS) from his stepfather. But when it was time for Him to begin His WORK, it was not the trade that He learned that He was concerned with finishing.

Hmm…

There is a difference, then, between business (trade) and work.

Suddenly, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul, who was a tentmaker by trade. (Acts 18:3) Though that was his trade, he busied himself with the work of the ministry for which he, on several occasions, called himself a slave, a slave of Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1) Note: He did not call himself a slave to the trade. (A nod to Prince, who wrote slave on his forehead.)

This is a lesson that we were not taught, not for real, as we grew up in this world where we have been trained to be perpetual slaves to a machine called Business. It is also crazy how, before we can figure this out, we are also hit with BUSYNESS.

We were robbed of our identity and of our 24 Hours before we could even understand its wealth.

It was sold to Lust, with Mammon as its supervisor, and then presented to us as the work that we are supposed to do.

We didn’t know, and not knowing was and is part of the problem as we continue to chase after unrighteous riches and perceived power.

People struggle today, trying to “get rich” while looking at the examples of others who seem to be doing very well.

What we do not realize is the cost that many pay to get the few extra dollars that are flaunted. [This statement will strike a nerve.] But King Jesus said that we would know the truth, and it would set us free. (John 8:32)

King Jesus told us that we could not serve both God and mammon (riches). (Matthew 6:24)

God’s Word tells us the following regarding chasing after money:

“Whoever loves money never has enough;

whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.

This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

And regarding the price that is paid, we are told the following:

“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap

and into many foolish and harmful desires

that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

Some people, eager for money,

have wandered from the faith

and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1Timothy 6:9-10)

King Jesus even showed us that this would be one of the tests used against us. (Matthew 4:8-10; Luke 4:5-8)

Crazy how, as I am considering this, I am also reminded of how this was the bondage of slavery that entrapped the Israelites in Egypt for 400 years. (Exodus 1: 8-14)

We are told that the Egyptians dealt shrewdly with the Israelites, setting taskmasters over them. (We call the taskmasters our employers and bosses today.) We are further told that they were made to serve with rigor… in all manner of service in the field. (Sounds like what people call jobs today.)

Today, many are working at jobs where they are underpaid, stressed, and unhappy. They are not making enough to support the lifestyle that they desire because of the seeds planted through media (television, internet) by lust (aka, the showy display of one’s means of life, the desire of the eyes, and the desire of the flesh). (1 John 2:16)

So, many are killing themselves working two or three jobs.

Not content with their lives, some have even turned to criminal acts, only to experience what we were warned of in 1 Timothy 6:9-10.

Did you know that one of the instructions that Jesus gave was that we were to be content with our wages? Luke 3:14.

The discontentment that many feel comes from the perceived wealth that they see in others. What is forgotten, or maybe missed, is that things are not always what they appear. This is what God’s word tells us about those who appear to be well off,

A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life. (Proverbs 13:7 MSG)

King Jesus taught us not to worry about what we were going to eat or wear because God knew and would provide. But instead, we were to seek first God’s Kingdom, and all of these other things would be added to us. (Matthew 6:19-34)

God also gave us the Sabbath. His rest. Work is good. So, God allowed for work to be done 6 out of the 7 days in a week. But we were to not forget that all that we have, all of our provision comes from the blessing of God upon us and upon our land. So, one day, the 7th day, we didn’t have to work at all. God promised to give double on the 6th day so that on the 7th day we could relax, rest, and find our refreshment in the true Source of all of our gain – GOD.

But what happened when the Israelites asked the Egyptians for time off to go and worship their God?

Pharaoh responded by saying (paraphrased by Jodi’s note version):

“Y’all lazy. You’ve got too much time on your hands. So, I’m going to increase your workload. You are expected to give more, but you won’t be paid for it. Longer hours. BYOB.” Okay, I went a little too far with the BYOB, which means bring your own beer. But they did have to bring their own straw because they weren’t going to be given straw for the work. Yet, they still had to produce the same amount. (For what was actually said, see Exodus 5:17-19). Enter on the scene, busyness.

Now, we do not know slavery the way they knew it in times past. But Business and Busyness are still operating in full force today, and they picked up an accomplice called Distractions, each designed to keep us from the true work that we are called to do.

First, let me say that King Jesus told us, “Unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3) Yet, we didn’t understand that He was trying to tell us that we have a Father, in heaven, who provides for us ALL that we need and will give us some of the things that we want too.

We need to return to trusting and relying upon the provision, protection, and sustaining power of our Heavenly Father, and not trying to lean upon our own understanding and strength. It is only ‘in Christ’ that we can do all things.

Anyway, there is a work that we were all called forth from the wombs of our mothers to do. We were called to do the Will of our Heavenly Father. God’s Will. God’s way. Our Faith. We were called to love and worship God. We were called to glorify God, our Father in Heaven, here on earth.

We were told that we were to do all things as unto the Lord.

Regardless of what our business is here on earth, we are to do it as unto the Lord. This means that what we do will be done with a spirit of excellence because of who we represent. We are the children of God Almighty here on earth. In doing all things as unto the Lord, we are glorifying Him on earth, just as King Jesus did.

Now, here is a part that many are forgetting from day to day:

Reckoning day is coming, when we will have to give an account for our time spent here on earth. (Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12)

We see an example of that reckoning day in the parable of the talents that King Jesus taught as found in Matthew 25:14-30.

The excuse that was given by the one who had the one talent was not accepted. What excuses will we have when it is time for us to give an account for our time spent here on earth?

I shared this verse in the Snack Time video, so I do not want to dwell further there. Instead, there is another parable that I am reminded of that I want to share now with everyone who is reading this.

It is the parable of the Vineyard Workers found in Matthew 20:8-15. I encourage you to read it because you need to know that it is not too late for you to go to work. Regardless of your age, it is not too late.

In this parable, some workers were hired at the last hour. They only worked one hour in comparison to those who were hired on from the beginning. Yet, they all received the same pay.

The issue, then, is not what time or age you begin to work the work that God has called you to. The issue is not starting at all.

I didn’t mean for this to be as long as it turned out to be, and the truth be told, I could actually continue. But I need to stop here because this was an interjected thought, and I need to get back to the work that I was initially working on.

If you read this far, thank you for your support. I encourage you to go back and read the scriptures shared. They are full of true wealth and riches. The type that can bless you now and in the time yet to come.

Blessed be.