Pumpkin Lattes And A Job Well Done

What do you love about fall? If you answered the arrival of Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte, you are not alone; it is Starbucks' most popular seasonal beverage since the espresso drink’s 2003 launch. Each fall, approximately 20 million are sold in North America alone. If you love something else about fall, is it because you haven’t yet tried a Pumpkin Spice Latte?

There are many things I love about fall (no, I haven’t tried a Pumpkin Spice Latte). Fall is a season full of vibrant colors, cozy traditions, and a refreshing atmosphere that brings joy and comfort to many. But for me, my favorite part of fall is the harvest. Not just the produce from the harvest, but the joy that I find in seeing the fruits of my labor is even more satisfying.

Even those who don’t garden know it takes effort; maybe that’s why they don’t garden. A garden needs watering and weeding, and to extend our harvest, plants that don’t tolerate frost must be covered. The reward for our work is the harvest that results from our labor. Recognizing this helps us understand what it means that God has created us for His pleasure.

Does it seem odd to you to suggest that God experiences pleasure? But Genesis 1 shows us that God finds joy not only in creation but also in us. Genesis 1 says that after each day, when God looked at what had been done, he was pleased, seeing that it was good. Then, after creating humans, we’re told, “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:31) 

However, Adam’s sin made everything no longer good, and this resulted in work becoming exhausting. “The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it through painful labor all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it.” (Genesis 3:17b–19a)

While working in my garden, pulling out the thorns and thistles may cause sweat on my brow, it also brings a sense of pleasure to see the completion and the reward of the harvest. Just as an inventor finds joy when his creation works, we should experience joy doing the work God has given us. In fact, God saved us for this purpose: “It is God who has worked in us to make us what we are. He has given us a new life because we are united with Christ Jesus. He saved us so that now we can do good things in our lives. Those are good things that he has already prepared for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 Easy English Bible)

As God’s good work, He intends for us to do the good deeds we’ve been designed to do. While not everyone can have a garden or orchard, all can appreciate the blessing of the rewards that come from doing the “good things that He has already prepared for us to do.” The reward for a teacher might be seeing a child finally understand a math equation. For those working in manufacturing, their reward could be seeing the finished product of their hard work. Others might be rewarded with the reconciliation of a broken relationship that resulted from your intentional changes. God has not only created us to work but also given us the ability to enjoy the joy of a job well done.

A biblical reminder of how this is done is seen in Paul’s words to the church in Colosse: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

Whatever you do, do it with the Lord in mind. If you had this mindset, what changes would it make in your workplace, home, and church? How would it change your definition of reward? Paul instructs, “Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.” (Ephesians 6:6)

Joy can be found in every season, from spring planting to winter's rest. But for me, the harvest brings joy as I see what the Lord has done. This is my reward.