What’s the Use
“What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance?” (Malachi 3:14).
There are some tasks which appear to be nothing other than labor in vain. Sweeping up the leaves in autumn, or the snow in winter while both are still falling, may appear futile. As soon as one lot of leaves has been cleared, more quickly fall. We must remember however that unless we clear the paths they will become blocked. So repetitive work is not necessarily needless. If a room is not dusted regularly, the dust accumulates.
Have you never felt that your work and worship is mere repetition? Does it not at times seem a wearisome performance? We need to pray that we may be kept from a lifeless monotonous round, that there may be life and joy in our worship of God and in our service in His name.
“Serve the Lord with gladness,” says the Psalmist in Psalm 100:2. “In all labor there is profit,” says Solomon in Proverbs 14:23. And Paul wrote, “Ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
