If there is one thing in particular that the working man fears, it is the inability to take care of himself any longer, specifically his physical needs.
“Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” (Psalm 71:9)
Very few are blessed as Moses was. “And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.” (Deut. 34:7)
By those words, “the working man” I do not reference those who are so filled with pride that in the days of their strength they would not accept the assistance of others when it was required, nor those, who in true humility, understood their own physical limitations.
Instead, I speak of those who fully understand two important things, the first is that if the Almighty lengthens their days to a point where that assistance is required, or by injury or illness along the way to those days, if He so desires, that it is His will, for Romans 8:28 is indeed a truth.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
But there is a second thing that many men of God to whom the Most High has deemed to bless with occasional physical pain and suffering rarely contemplate.
It may not be for us.
And here I must in part return to the previous letter written to you, and the opportunity to rejoice in these, what I can best describe as, undesirable days.
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1st Cor. 10:11)
I speak in no derogatory or offensive way here concerning my beautiful wife, but her only true friend, the only living creature she mournfully wept over when he died was her dog. I have been blessed beyond all measure to witness her becoming a daughter of the Almighty God of all creation, a woman whose compassionate heart I could never attain to, and in part, I personally believe, it is because I have almost died at least three times since we met and suffered many injuries and illnesses.
I have been used as her example to learn compassion and love, and that love has spilled over to perhaps thousands of people.
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” (Eph. 4:26)
There is anger at times of course, I would not be now or never been that working man if there wasn’t. Sometimes, in form, directed at my lovely wife, but never with malicious intent or malice, sometimes directed toward God Himself, questioning His will in those times, but never doubting His Sovereignty over my life, or the direction He wants me to go.
Do I enjoy these times? Of course not. Would I rather they never happened? Of course.
But I would ask you to contemplate this truth, a truth that can only be applied to the Living God and no one else. The means justify the end, and the end always justifies the means.
If you have been born again, you signed up for whatever He wills for you, you do not always have to like what He brings into your life, but you can learn, you can be taught by the Holy Spirit to rejoice in it. And we have the only perfect example for these truths.
“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
A strong Carpenter who was beaten so badly that He could barely crawl to that cross, but if that was the best He could do, that was what He was going to do.
Perhaps He has placed you in this same place today, perhaps this short letter is meant only to prepare you for those days of pain in your future, rest in Him, trust Him, He knows what He is doing.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
Rest in His promises.
