Week 29 - July 14-20, 2024: The Works of Our Hands

This week’s daily readings:

July 14-20, 2024

This Week’s Devotional:

The Works of Our Hands

by The Rt. Rev. Brian Bethke

Scripture:

When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,`
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them? 

You have made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their feet:

— Psalm 8:3-6 (NIV) 

Reflection:

When my son was younger, he had a great idea to build a birdhouse. The plan was to use instructions from the internet, materials from old projects, and tools we found around the house. I am not that handy, but I thought to myself, “How hard could it be?”

Build day came. We gathered the materials, the tools, and strategically positioned the instructions. As we began, my son Brian let me know he was not feeling well and could not take part in the project after all. “No problem!” I thought, and decided I was going to do it by myself. Bad idea! Needless to say, it was the worst birdhouse ever constructed in human history. The roof did not close up, the walls were misshapen, and it looked like something out of a Tim Burton film. What went wrong? I had passion. I had purpose. I had good intentions. However, it did not turn out the way I wanted it to.

I decided to hang it up anyway, though I wondered what self-respecting bird would want to live in it. A few days later (much to my surprise), the chirp of birds could be heard from inside my birdhouse, and fresh laid eggs resided in it. A family of feathered friends had decided to move in! 

God has uniquely created us and purposed us to steward his creative order. He could do it all perfectly by himself, but instead he uses us. That means no matter where we are at, or what we have been called to, we have purpose. He uses our work, especially our imperfect work, for his re-creative purposes. What you do matters to God!

Do you believe God cares about your work? Do you see your work as an opportunity to worship?

Prayer:

O Heavenly Father, it really is amazing that you care so much about us and the work of our hands! In Ecclesiastes 3:13 it says that we should take pleasure in our toil because it is one of your gifts to mankind. Thank you for creating us with our unique talents and for giving us the awesome responsibility of stewarding your creation. Help us to understand that, with every project we undertake, you are right there beside us ready to make our imperfect work useful. Let it always bring glory to you, in the power of Jesus Christ, your Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen