Working Hard

Jeremiah 48:10
(10) Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.

This little proverb appears in a chapter describing the upcoming destruction of Moab. It tells a pretty grisly tale for Moab. Of course, Moab and Israel go way back and they ultimately deserve what they get.

I just found it interesting that this proverb popped out in the middle of this chapter. According to the notes in my ESV Study Bible, this refers to the work that the Babylonians are going to do in Moab. God appointed them to destroy Moab and this proverb explains that it is important to do God's work with zeal.

I don't want to go all Prayer of Jabez on this verse. I don't think that it holds any mystical significance beyond the obvious. However, I do think that the obvious is plenty to chew on. We are to do God's work zealously. We are not to shrink back from the difficult things He calls on us to do. This is a dire warning for anyone who plans to go into any kind of ministry. Frankly, it's a dire warning for any Christian because we are all called to do the Lord's work.