Working Hard Or Hardly Working?

This study is based on the sermon titled Working Hard Or Hardly Working? by Matthew Maher below.

In Working Hard or Hardly Working?, Pastor Matthew Maher of Landmark Church explores the biblical principle of diligence, using the hardworking farmer as an example of spiritual discipline. Just as a farmer toils tirelessly before seeing a harvest, we must be willing to put in the work of faith—cultivating our hearts, sowing seeds of truth, and trusting God’s timing. The sermon highlights how pain and hardship can either be mismanaged or transformed into deeper intimacy with God. When we understand that affliction often leads to greater affection, we can embrace discipline as a pathway to growth rather than a burden.

The message challenges us to consider what we are sowing in our spiritual lives. Scripture makes it clear that we cannot expect to reap holiness if we are planting seeds of sin or distraction (Galatians 6:7-8). The illustration of the Chinese Bamboo Tree reminds us that faithfulness in unseen seasons leads to visible fruit in due time. Just as the farmer works even while waiting, we too must persist in prayer, obedience, and character development, trusting that God is preparing a harvest we cannot yet see. Waiting without working leads to withering, but patience with purpose leads to lasting transformation.

Finally, the sermon calls us to endurance, urging us not to grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Many mistake waiting for patience, but true patience requires active trust in God’s process. Joseph’s story reminds us that seasons of waiting are never wasted when we remain faithful. We must guard against spiritual weariness by staying connected to Christ, the true Vine, and pressing on with conviction. Just as the diligent farmer reaps a harvest, so will we—if we do not give up.