Work Hard, Rest Well

Solid Rock Church Sermons

In this sermon, we looked at the secrets to setting and achieving goals in our lives. The challenge in reaching our goals doesn't lie solely in our work ethic and determination, but in the way we handle failure. Many of us take an "all-or-nothing" approach to growth, either giving up entirely when we fall short or, even worse, letting the fear of failure prevent us from trying at all. However, the Gospel invites us to a different approach. In Colossians 3:23, we're reminded to work hard, not for human approval, but for the Lord. The secret to meaningful resolutions is rooted in grace: working diligently for the approval of Jesus—approval we already have—and waking up each day to His mercies that are new every morning. Like farmers, we must till the soil, plant the seeds, and pull the weeds—doing what we can with diligence, while trusting God to bring about the growth in His perfect timing. As Christians, we know the Holy Spirit is at work, transforming us in ways we cannot. Transformation happens when we continue to show up with whatever effort we have, trusting God to bring about the change.