Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ~Hebrews 4:1 NKJV
A clear definition of toil: Long strenuous fatiguing labor; struggle, battle, laborious effort. (Webster 1828)
The only labor for the born-again believer should be in the word of God. In the book of Joshua chapter one, verse eight, we, the Church, are encouraged just as Joshua was during his reign - to meditate on God’s word day and night; to carefully observe and do what is written in it - with this same discipline, WE would make our way prosperous, and WE would have remarkable success. Our part is laid out for us in God’s word to experience the blessing - without demanding work, fatigue labor or struggle. A job or a business does not denote the favor of God, but the blessing that is already on us comes with God’s favor, and this is what opened the door for the job or a business.
We are already blessed and nothing we can do (other than obey God’s word) can add to the blessing of the Lord that has made us rich (abundantly supplied) and has added no sorrow or toil. Of course, we work, and we have careers - using our gifts and our talents (with understanding) confidently knowing that we are already blessed. Working overtime will not increase the blessing – it will increase the paycheck but not the blessing. According to God’s word, whatever our hands touch prospers. According to God’s word, His favor is already on us and covering us as a shield. According to God’s word, our every need has already been met. We are already blessed; it is already done. We are blessed and we are a blessing… according to God’s word. I prefer to receive what God said. What about you? There is a rest that ‘has been’ (past tense) made available for God’s believing children – those who choose to walk by faith and not by sight.
“The blessing of the Lord–it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].” … “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” … “God’s blessing makes life rich; nothing we do can improve on God.” ~Proverbs 10:22 AMPC; NKJV; MSG
God is not a man – He cannot and will not lie.
God’s word is true. If He said it, we are to believe it. I prefer to take God at His word. He has set His word clearly for us to receive and walk in. He is not a man that He can lie. He does not take back what He has promised. Our part is to believe, receive and obey. Whatever His word says concerning finances and how and what to do with them, is exactly what we should do.
In the third book of Malachi, we are admonished to tithe and give an offering. The word shares that if we do not, we are cursed with a curse, but if we do, the windows of heaven are open to us and God, Himself will rebuke the devour (the devil from robbing us of our experiential of the blessing) for our sake. Praise the Lord! As we continue to tithe and give – faithfully and consistently – we will continue to experience the heavens open to us. What does this mean? Our every need is met, we have more than enough seed to sow - to keep it growing and keep it coming. This is supernatural and it takes faith (total belief and trust in God) to see what He has already promised made manifest – a reality. Remember, we are called to be blessed and a blessing. We are called to have more than enough… to give at any time where God tells us in our hearts to do so. The resources we have are blessings from God – He is the ONLY Source. Not only does it take faith, but it also takes humility to trust God and rest even when going to a 9-5 or our own businesses… That rest or should I say peace causes us to always give God the glory. When we are not overwhelmed or over worked (in toil) we are more conscious and alert to hear God clearly and receive His instruction.
For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. “For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works’: and again, in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
~Hebrews 4:3-5 NKJV
Multiple streams of income.
God is THE SOURCE. As a result of our obedience, He has provided for us avenues, ideas, concepts, favor… doors open that no man can shut. These additional resources (from God) provide multiple streams of income that help to fulfill our overall call to finance His kingdom, live this life in abundance, meet our every need, and be a blessing (not only to our own households and family). Our abundance should flow into the world – our abundance of peace, love, and financial prosperity. God delights in our prosperity. God delights in the desires of our hearts. It is an example of God and our Lord Jesus when we can care for our families, birth God-given dreams, and provide services to our community, because of the multiple streams of income and wisdom He has given us – without toil.
The purpose of the multiple streams was never for us to keep our revenue to ourselves nor was it to show how witty or smart we may be. In all that we do, it should be to give God the glory. He is Jehovah Jireh - He is our Provider. When we live good and eat good it is as a witness to Who God is in our lives and to show this world that being in Christ, there truly is life and life more abundantly. The worldly philanthropist should not be talked about as much as the born-again believers who operate as kingdom financiers called by God. The key is ceasing from our own works (Proverbs 16:1-3). We should endeavor to live lives on purpose. When we cease from doing our own thing and seek God to ensure that it is His ‘thing’ we will experience His rest and see supernatural increase that goes beyond natural understanding and natural limits.
Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). ~Ephesians 3:20 AMPC
Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease! Proverbs 23:4 NKJV
Purpose fulfilled eradicates toil.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon you. God’s anointing is upon us and God desires to use us at any given time – not just in ministry, but to take the ministry of Jesus wherever we go. When we are on purpose our time is spent wisely and not in vain. When we are in the perfect will of God and focused on God’s agenda, we will not waste time or toil because we are about our Father’s business. What is our Father’s business? All opportunities leading to spiritual growth and the overall effort to reach out to people who need Jesus. There is peace where there is no toil.
Temptations or distractions to draw from the faith will be presented daily that would attempt to take us from kingdom mentality – the understanding that in any given moment – where you are using your gifts, leading your company, or picking up the kids at school – that God would present the perfect opportunity to win someone to HIM. The Luke 4:18 anointing is on you, as a born-again believer this is your primary call – the ministry of reconciliation. This is seeking the kingdom of God first and all other things will be added to us (all those things we could overlabor to achieve – God’s favor brings us to what He has already done).
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me. To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” ~Luke 4:18-19 NKJV
A prayer life eliminates toil.
One of my favorite scriptures is Mark 11:24, “Whatever things you desire when you pray if you believe you receive them, you will have them.” This is powerful - if we believe. The action part is us praying – making our request known to God, casting our every care and concern to Him, declaring our every need is and has been met, and being at peace (a place of contentment) as we await the NOW manifestation… it is already there, but our faith brings it to a reality.
We are called to greater works than just working. God’s favor is on us. There are many things that we will not have to work for, that the Bible promises are already ours – houses filled with good things that we did not fill (Deuteronomy 6:11); divine health (our faith part is to eat healthy, work out, and keep a pure heart); doors open that no man can shut; promotion that could have only come from God… these are just a few things that we could labor or toil to achieve. The place God has for us is peace – mentally and physically. Let us trust Him. Trust that we are not missing anything, and all that He would have for us to experience at any given moment, He will make it manifest – make it known (as we remain in faith). God is our ONLY SOURCE and there is rest available since long ago. ~TLW
Beyond Confession:
“It is finished. No more toil. The blessing of the Lord has made me rich. It is already done.
Nothing I can do will increase God’s blessing on my life!”
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. ~John 14:12-14 NKJV
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