DCLM DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FOR 1ST MAY 2026

Topic: Secret of Profitable Labour

Key Verse: Lamentations 2:6

“And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.”

Text: Lamentations 2:6-13 (KJV)

6 And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.
7 The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.
8 The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.
9 Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.
10 The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.
11 Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.
12 They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers’ bosom.
13 What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?

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Daily Manna for Today

When May 1 was first marked as International Labour Day in 1889, the main objective was to honour the dignity of work. Workmen and their engineers and all those involved in productive enterprise were to be celebrated for their priceless contribution to efforts at improving the lot of humanity. But alas, whenever wars and natural disasters occurred, they destroyed the monumental projects of labour, to the horror of their creators.

Jerusalem, the ancient capital of Israel, suffered such devastation in 586 BC, when invading hordes of the Babylonian Army turned its architectural beauty into ashes and pillaged its sacred and iconic temple that took many years and mammoth labour to erect. It was a dark moment in the history of the Jewish nation. Prophet Jeremiah said the gates of the city were sunk into the ground, suggesting complete collapse. The people, their prophets and elders, he said, were all subdued into silence and weeping.

Although God honours beneficial labour, He warns that unless man involves Him in his work, he would be doing it in vain. The workmen putting up the Tower of Babel tasted that pill because they alienated the Lord. Jerusalem, in spite of its global status as a centre of worship, was also at the receiving end of divine judgment. The ravaging of the city came as a result of the sins of idolatry, pride and rejection of the Lord.

Therefore, as the world celebrates International Labour Day, mankind should remember that for the work of our hands to last and be blessed of God, He must be acknowledged as the ultimate workman, whose perfect expertise cannot be put in the margins. His command on work ethics and the need to shun cheating and fraud, must be observed. Our labour can become more profitable to God, ourselves and humanity when we put God in the equation and discharge our duties and responsibilities, not with eye service or as men pleasers, but in line with best practices and godly principles.

Thought for the Day: Our labour becomes more profitable when aligned with divine principle.

The Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 10-11

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Original Commentary

Introduction: The Vanity of Labour Without God

Every year on May 1st, the world celebrates International Labour Day. It is a day set aside to honour workers, to recognise the dignity of labour, and to celebrate the achievements of human industry. From the farmer in the field to the engineer in the factory, from the teacher in the classroom to the doctor in the hospital, human labour has built civilisations, advanced technology, and improved living conditions across the globe.

But today’s devotional from Pastor W.F. Kumuyi confronts us with a sobering question: What happens when all this labour is destroyed? What happens when the cities we build are reduced to rubble, the temples we erect are pillaged, and the gates we construct sink into the ground? The answer is found in the tragic history of Jerusalem.

In 586 BC, the Babylonian army marched against Jerusalem. The city that had been the crown jewel of Israel, the site of Solomon’s magnificent temple, the centre of worship for the one true God, was utterly destroyed. The walls that had taken years to build were broken down. The gates that had stood for generations were sunk into the ground. The temple that had been the pride of the nation was set on fire. All the labour, all the skill, all the resources that had gone into building Jerusalem were wiped out in a matter of days.

Why did God allow this to happen? The answer is clear: because Jerusalem had forgotten the Lord. The people had turned to idolatry. The leaders had become proud. The nation had rejected the God who had given them their prosperity. Their labour was not aligned with divine principle, and therefore, it could not stand.

The Secret of Profitable Labour

The title of today’s devotional is “Secret of Profitable Labour.” What is that secret? It is simply this: labour that is aligned with God’s will, done in obedience to God’s commands, and dedicated to God’s glory will last. Labour that excludes God, that is built on pride and self-sufficiency, that ignores His commandments, will eventually be destroyed.

This is the lesson of the Tower of Babel. The builders said, “Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name” (Genesis 11:4). Their labour was impressive. Their technology was advanced. Their ambition was massive. But God scattered them because their labour was rooted in pride, not in obedience.

This is also the lesson of Jerusalem. The city was beautiful. The temple was glorious. The worship was elaborate. But the people’s hearts were far from God. They offered sacrifices while practising idolatry. They sang songs while living in sin. They celebrated feasts while oppressing the poor. And God, who had once dwelt in their midst, withdrew His presence and allowed their enemies to destroy their labour.

The Picture of Devastation in Lamentations

The text for today gives us a harrowing picture of what happens when God withdraws His hand of blessing from a nation’s labour:

• Verse 6: God violently took away His tabernacle and destroyed the places of assembly. The very presence of God departed.

• Verse 7: The Lord cast off His altar and abhorred His sanctuary. The place where sacrifices were offered became desolate.

• Verse 8: The Lord stretched out a line of destruction against the wall. What had taken years to build was destroyed systematically.

• Verse 9: The gates sunk into the ground. The bars were broken. The king and princes were taken captive. The law was no more. The prophets had no vision.

• Verse 10: The elders sat in silence, covered in dust and sackcloth. The virgins hung their heads in shame.

• Verse 11: Jeremiah’s eyes failed with tears. His bowels were troubled. He wept over the destruction of his people.

This is the wages of labour that excludes God. It is not that God is angry at hard work. He is not opposed to human achievement. But He will not bless labour that is built on a foundation of sin, pride, and rebellion.

What Makes Labour Profitable?

The devotional gives us several keys to making our labour profitable in God’s sight:

1. Acknowledge God as the Ultimate Workman
God is the original worker. He created the heavens and the earth in six days. He formed man from the dust of the ground. He continues to work in and through His creation. When we acknowledge that all our abilities come from Him, and that we are merely stewards of His gifts, our labour takes on eternal significance.

2. Shun Cheating and Fraud
God commands honesty in all our dealings. Whether you are a business owner, an employee, a student, or a homemaker, your work must be marked by integrity. Cheating, fraud, deceit, and dishonesty may bring short-term gain, but they will eventually lead to destruction.

3. Avoid Eye Service
Colossians 3:22 says, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” Eye service is working hard only when the boss is watching. It is doing the minimum required to avoid punishment. But the believer is called to work heartily as unto the Lord, not as unto men.

4. Work According to Best Practices and Godly Principles
Excellence is not a worldly concept; it is a biblical one. Daniel excelled above all the other administrators because an excellent spirit was in him (Daniel 6:3). When we work with excellence, we bring glory to God. When we cut corners, we dishonour Him.

5. Put God in the Equation
This is the most important secret. Before you start any project, any business, any career, any endeavour, invite God into it. Seek His guidance. Ask for His blessing. Dedicate the work to His glory. When God is in the equation, the outcome is secure.

The Contrast: Labour That Lasts vs. Labour That Perishes

The world celebrates labour that produces visible results: skyscrapers, fortunes, empires, monuments. But much of this labour will one day be destroyed. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

Labour that is done for God’s glory lasts forever. A cup of cold water given in His name will be rewarded. A kind word spoken to a hurting soul will echo in eternity. A child raised in the fear of the Lord will impact generations. A life spent in obedience to God will produce fruit that remains.

Practical Applications for May 1st (International Labour Day)

1. Dedicate Your Work to God
Before you go to your job today, pray: “Lord, I dedicate this day’s labour to You. Let my work bring glory to Your name. Let my hands be instruments of Your righteousness.”

2. Examine Your Work Ethics
Are you honest in your dealings? Do you give a full day’s work for a full day’s pay? Do you cut corners when no one is watching? Ask God to search your heart and reveal any area where your labour is not aligned with His principles.

3. Refuse to Compromise
You may be pressured to cheat, to lie, to take shortcuts, to participate in fraud. May God give you the courage to refuse. It is better to lose a job than to lose your soul. It is better to be poor with integrity than rich with corruption.

4. Work as Unto the Lord
Whether you are sweeping the floor or managing a corporation, do it as unto the Lord. Let your attitude, your effort, and your excellence reflect the character of Christ.

5. Remember the Temporary Nature of Earthly Labour
The walls of Jerusalem were broken down. The gates sank into the ground. The temple was burned with fire. Do not put your ultimate hope in earthly achievements. Build for eternity.

Prayer Points for May 1st

1. Father, I acknowledge that all my ability to work comes from You. I dedicate my labour to Your glory.

2. Lord, search my heart and reveal any area where I have compromised my work ethics. Give me grace to walk in integrity.

3. Father, deliver me from eye service and men-pleasing. Help me to work heartily as unto You.

4. Lord, let the work of my hands be established and blessed by You. Let it not be destroyed like the walls of Jerusalem.

5. Father, as the world celebrates labour, let my labour be profitable for Your kingdom and for eternity.

Conclusion: Align Your Labour with Divine Principle

The secret of profitable labour is not harder work, longer hours, or smarter strategies. It is alignment with divine principle. It is acknowledging God as the source of all ability. It is working with integrity, excellence, and obedience. It is putting God in the equation from start to finish.

Jerusalem’s walls fell because the people had forgotten the Lord. The Tower of Babel was scattered because the builders sought their own name, not God’s. But the labour that is done for God’s glory, in God’s way, according to God’s principles, will stand. It may not be recognised by the world. It may not produce skyscrapers or fortunes. But it will produce fruit that remains for eternity.

As you celebrate International Labour Day, remember the lesson of Lamentations. Do not let your labour be in vain. Align it with divine principle. And watch as God blesses the work of your hands.

Thought for the Day (Expanded): Our labour becomes more profitable when aligned with divine principle. The walls of Jerusalem were beautiful, but without God’s blessing, they became rubble. The Tower of Babel was impressive, but without God’s approval, it was scattered. Do not labour in vain. Put God in the equation. Work with integrity. Build for eternity. And your labour will not be destroyed.

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END OF DCLM DAILY MANNA FOR MAY 1, 2026 WITH COMMENTARY