Work...
work...
Say, What kind of work do you do? One of the greatest conversation starters is "What kind of work do you do?" It is the kind of question to see if there might be some kind of common ground to proceed further in conversation. Now if a person would say to me, "I'm a farmer, cattleman, horse-trader, equestrian, or old car/truck collector, then this is for me some COMMON GROUND. (Don't worry, I didn't forget the things of God). In earlier years, it was the things of banking, economics, law, but now speaking personally, I'm enjoying the Senior side of the years left for me which is more fun, not having to be directly involved in the "seething pot" of business matters today. Let's talk about work for a while.
There is nothing wrong with WORK. Work is ordained by God. The Apostle Paul was by trade a tentmaker. Many of the other Apostles were fishermen. David was a shepherd. Amos was a farmer. Abraham was a herdsman for one thing, and on and on as the Bible describes certain characters. One thing tho, God never calls the lazy, the shiftless, the won't work, the sluggard, and such to a higher office.
As my Korean friend says, "No workee, no eatee." II Thessalonians 3:10 states, "...this we command you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." Most decent folks that I know believe the same thing the Bible puts forth above, which contradicts the current government up on capital hill. So what's new? The liberals there seem to think that those who work should feed and support those who wont work!
Reminds me of something humorous I heard. A certain fellow said, "My Grandfather was a politician, and my Daddy was also a politician and I don't plan to work either!" The Bible gives us two kinds of work:
MAKING A LIVING
It is pleasing to God that we work to earn money in order to provide for our needs and the needs of our family. Money itself is not the problem, the problem is the love of money. Some will do most anything to get money (cheat, rob, scheme, lie, etc.). Most of you know that I was born and "raised" in Anderson County, South Carolina, down on the Georgia line. Between my Dad, and Grandaddys, counting all the land owned, rented, and farmed on shares, it came to many acres. Cotton, corn, wheat, oats, cattle, chickens, hogs, and all the equipment to get the job done.
Dad said more than once, that farming was "hard work, little profit, BUT, everything is not just about money." We never went hungry, by the way! I am thankful beyond measure for having been reared in the country and in a farming family and for the values instilled from an early age. I still love to work, drive nails, saw boards, make things, small farm, gardening, working on old collectible trucks and tractors, and working with horses. I reminded my youngest son, not long ago, about the time he helped me work on horses. Hot and cold days, dry and muddy, his job was to catch them which wasn't easy. He said, "Dad, I still remember that, it was hard work, and I appreciate more now! I'm going to pass it along." Yep, I like to work! But obviously, not everyone does neither in the Apostle Paul's day or this day. But everyone likes to eat. Not working and depending on the tax payers who do work is one of the scourges of our society. We are bloated with so many that are social parasites, disgracefully lazy, and won't work! How pathetic! I thank God that my Dad did not consider it demeaning to work, or to teach us young'uns good work ethics. THE SCRIPTURES STANDS "... If any would not work, neither should he eat." For the record, there are those who for no fault of their own depend upon others to help out. Scriptures teach us to help the poor, and as taxpayers, personal ethics, and as a church, we do. Also, I have observed first hand the hand out (welfare) to healthy adults that won't work and make it their occupation to live off others and it's to this LARGE GROUP that I refer. Work is ORDAINED OF GOD and there is no way to get around it according to Scripture and please God. Now to the,
Second kind of work
Speaking of the work that builds treasures in Heaven, the kind of work that pleases God. "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire... (speaking of Gold, Silver, Precious stones, or
Wood, Hay, or Stubble). Please read I Corinthians 3:9-15. In the small book of James chapter 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." There is a link to good old-fashioned work having an "Abundant LIfe," and working for God. The average Christian seems to have little interest in building treasures in Heaven, but there are still some, thankfully, who work diligently at the task of the cause of Christ. At Fauquier Cowboy Church, we are presently winding up the series and video "SHARING JESUS WITHOUT FEAR." With this information and knowledge, any child of God can win a soul to Christ if he/she is willing to put forth a little work. It is sad to say that, based on polls and personal observance, only about 10% make it a point to witness to the lost. That means that 90% never make an attempt to win the lost, to share their faith. 90%!!! Can you imagine 90% of Christians appearing before God naked and destitute concerning the work of God? Saved, yes, "So as by fire." I cannot imagine any Christian wanting to go out into eternity empty handed.
As someone said, every one of God's people are on God's payroll and one day the Great Record Keeper will add it all up and payment will be made. May we all make it a point to better serve God.
Say, What kind of work do you do?
