Eager Hands
Proverbs 31:13b NIV ¨She works with eager hands.¨
The phrase used in this verse ‘eager hands’ brings these images to my mind: a tired mother cooking, cleaning and running errands, a student who puts in her best effort as she toils on the paper due next week, or a young computer specialist, a hardworking surgeon, who starts her day drawing from God’s strength, eager to be right in the place God has placed her.
Working with ‘eager hands’ doesn’t come easy every day does it? Some days, doing the dishes, hosting friends at home, leading a church group, attending to a patient or writing an assignment can be hard and trying.
I teach reading and writing to five and six-year-olds in primary school. One day, during my quiet time, I looked up verses on ‘calling, gifting and grace’ and here is what I learned from my time in God’s Word.Calling¨
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Romans 11:29 NIV
God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.
These verses make it very clear that God created us for a purpose and the work we do was planned by God in advance.
Irrevocable is a strong word used in the NIV. It means: not able to be changed or reversed, final.
What a joy that God’s call for your life and mine is final!
¨My gifting¨
Romans 12:6-8 makes a list of the gifts God bestows on man. I love this list: serving, encouraging, teaching, leading, giving generously, and being merciful.
Paul tells us to find our gift and use it well.
Romans 12:6 NIV
We have different gifts according to the grace given us.
God has given us gifts; each of us has different gifts, so precious and rare. I think of Anita who paints and makes the most delicious fish curry. I think of Mona and her gift to teach and encourage! Rina writes so well, Priya’s gifting is to make pretty cards, and Nora enjoys baking and entertaining.
Let’s pray, asking God to reveal our gifts so we can use them well.
¨God’s Grace¨
Have you ever felt that you do not fit the role you play? That you don´t have what it takes? Not enough patience to teach, not enough creativity to tend a home, not enough resilience to work in a man’s world, not enough love to care for 4four children all day every day?
The following verse has a lot to say to us on this:
2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV paraphrased
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that
In all things
At all times
Having all you need
You will abound in every good work.
So now when Satan whispers in my ear that I can’t cope with a particular set of students or meet a particular deadline at Tirzahmag or be the loving wife and mother I am called to be, I shoot back the verse – ‘Because God’s grace abounds I can abound in good works!’
Abound means existing in large numbers.
So, God’s grace does not just dribble in, it comes in abundance and it is tailor made for us and our calling.
Next time you feel you do not belong to the ‘eager hands’ group of women, may God’s word remind you of your calling, your gifting and of His grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9a NIV
My grace is sufficient for you.
And yes God’s grace is all we need!
I would like to end with a quote from a book by E. M. Bounds, ‘’Ministry done in secret is as significant if not more than ministry done on stage.’
If your ministry is to be a home schooling mum, a child nursing and caring for an elderly parent, or a church steward polishing brass at church, I hope this encourages you as you live out your calling with His grace.
Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me to do good works and preparing them in advance for me. Thank you Lord, for the gifts you have given me, show them to me if I have not discovered them yet. Thank you Lord, for your grace which is everything I need to fulfill my calling. Amen.
Yes! - with God’s help, each of us can work cheerfully and diligently with EAGER HANDS because there is purpose to what we do and people who are blessed by that work