May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands. (Ps. 90:17)
THE NEXT TIME YOU PICK UP a tube of Colgate toothpaste you may want to think about William Colgate, the founder of the famous company that bears his name. At sixteen, William left home in search of a job. On the way to New York City, he met a canal boat captain who prayed with him and advised him to honor the Lord with his earnings and work ethic.
After obtaining a job in a New York soap factory, William gave 10 percent of his first dollar to God. Later, he started his own starch, soap, and candle business and soon became one of the wealthiest men in New York. But wealth did not exclude God from his life. He always sought God’s blessing on his labors and gave generously to the Lord’s work. Eventually, Colgate helped organize the American Bible Society and served as its treasurer until his death.
Written by Moses in the wilderness, Psalm 90 is the oldest of the 150 psalms. It contrasts God’s eternal nature with our temporal nature and God’s holiness with humans’ sinfulness. Moses prayed that God would forgive the Israelites’ sin and bless their works, especially in light of life’s brevity. None of us know how much longer we have to honor God in our work, so shouldn’t we invite God into our work, as William Colgate did?
Let your work assume a holy purpose by inviting God into it.
Jim Dyet was born in Scotland and raised in Canada. Married for fifty-six years, he and Gloria live in Colorado Springs and enjoy daily walks with their three dogs.
