“In all labour there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23

From the passage above, when we compare working with talking, it is easy to admit that working is far more difficult than talking. Work requires energy, thought, and focus, whereas talking is often associated with distraction especially when we are not in a professional or diplomatic context. That is why many of us naturally expect a financial reward or immediate remuneration after work. Unfortunately, when that expectation is not met, we tend to give up. Such an attitude causes many to miss opportunities. This message focuses on the first six words of the passage: “In all labour there is profit” and draws from the story of Tabitha to show that all types of work are rewarded, and that we are mistaken when we trivialize work that is not immediately remunerated.

The Bible says in Acts 9:36 that Tabitha was always doing good. While that verse does not give specific details about her work, verse 39 provides a clue: the widows showed Peter the clothes that Dorcas had made. From these two verses, we can imagine the kind of good Tabitha was doing: she made garments for others for free.

Another remarkable aspect of Tabitha’s story is her personal situation. The Bible does not explicitly say whether she was single or a widow, but since it never mentions her family and notes her close connection with widows, many Bible commentaries suggest she was indeed a widow or unmarried.

Tabitha, therefore, was likely a single or widowed woman who worked without compensation, making clothes for others out of love. Even though she never asked for payment, God and the people she served rewarded her in extraordinary ways. When she died, the widows she had helped mourned deeply for her: “All the widows stood around him, crying and showing Peter the robes that Dorcas had made.” (Acts 9:39). Their affection and gratitude moved Peter to pray for her, and God rewarded her good works by bringing her back to life. Moreover, Tabitha was a disciple of Christ (Acts 9:36) and there is no evidence that any other disciple of Jesus was resurrected on earth. Apart from salvation itself, what greater earthly reward could one receive?

The story of Tabitha urges us never to give up doing good. Every act of work or service, done from the heart, will eventually speak for us sooner or later, in one way or another. (Colossians 3:23–24 and Ephesians 6:7–8).