Thinking about labor and what it means

I have a different perspective now of labor due to my current circumstances. I'm learning the hard way that there is labor that leads nowhere and labor that fulfills someone's need. Time is a precious commodity, so if you do labor that doesn't lead anywhere then you are wasting it. If you labor to fulfill someone's need, then you are redeeming it. It sounds pretty simple. We all must labor to help each other out, not accumulate stuff for ourselves or build a barrier between ourselves and others.

So, how do we labor for others? We start by stopping to think about how we can fulfill someone's need. What are their pain points? How can you resolve to fix them? First and foremost you should write down and resolve to do what you can to fix the situation(s) that are causing the pain. Pray and talk to God about the situation. Then you should labor as God directs you, utilizing the talents and abilities he has given you. Not so simple...some of us spend our whole lives trying to figure out where our talents and abilities lie. Yet we all have unique talents and abilities that we can start using and we should start using.

I know what mine are but obstacles get in my way when I start to use them. I forget at times who is in control. I panic without reasoning out the circumstances that led me to where I am. I have to remember and remind myself that God is in control. So, do I wallow in self-pity because of my current circumstances or do I praise God for the resources and support he has given me? I choose to rejoice and praise God for the resources and support I've been given. Now I must utilize that support and those resources to help someone else out, otherwise I'll be wasting both time and energy.

I then come to the conclusion that in everything I do that I should do it for the Lord, not for myself. I realize that labor can be a bitter experience for everyone involved or it can be a blessing to everyone involved. Do I want to be a burden or blessing? I want to be a blessing.