I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.
-Haggai 2:17
Do I labor in vain, oh Lord? Tell me, that I may know your will. Whatever my hand finds to do it always failed. If things keep going like this, then I must learn the right way. The way of your will Lord!
Oh how pathetic a man whose work became his god! For he wakes up at dawn while his neighbors were in deep slumber. He labors all the day long for money yet he finds no rest in his soul. Cast your burden upon the Lord, oh you exhausted one, and he will give you rest!
Oh how futile the ways of a man whose work became his master! For you have labor for the gratification of your ungodly desires. You have corrupted yourself by treachery, bribery and unjust gain. Repent from all your iniquities and forsake not the reproof of God!
Are your works always come to nothing, oh you greedy?! You must have labor in wrong way. You have ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward (Jude 11), for your deeds were evil. You exchanged your integrity for the riches begotten treacherously. Therefore, God turned the fruits of your labor like ashes on the hearth.
Are your labor ends up to ruin, oh you hardworking man?! You must have lack something in your works. Delight yourself unto the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4). Pray to God, plead to his will, ask his blessings to all your plans and he will direct your paths to prosperity. For with men it is impossible but to God nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26).
How can we find the sweet success if our works were abominable in your sight oh Father? How can we rest in a greener pasture if you have led us in the wilderness? Oh God, we definitely got what we deserved for going against your will. Forgive us, if we have gone to the rudiments of this world and forced our way out of the narrow path. Our hands became rusty and weary, the once esteemed skills just faded for naught. Oh we have shed our sweat and tears wastefully! Oh Father, surely, we can do nothing without you. Therefore, teach our hearts to be obedient while we plead our humble supplications to you Lord, crying, "not our will but thy will be done (Matthew 6:10)!"
