01-31-10 - Loving With Our Work

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1. WORK IS GOD’S WILL

- God wants us to work.

1 Thessalonians 4:11
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.
He says to strive for these three things – live a quiet life, mind your own business, and work with your hands.

The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. Genesis 2:15
Even the first human had work to do – to tend and watch over the Garden.
This leads me to believe that work is a central part of our being – we were created to be people who work. – Proverbs 6:6-11
Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.


And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. - 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

We need to remember that the “idle” here are not those who can’t work, but those who refuse to work.

2. WORK IS OUR WITNESS TO THE LOST

Non-believers are watching us to see how we work.

Paul tells us about the positive results of those who work hard. 1 Thessalonians 4:12

Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

3. WORK IS GOD’S MEANS OF PROVISION

Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others. – 1 Thessalonians 4:12

“I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  - Acts 20:33-35


4. GOD’S WORK MUST BE OUR PRIORITY

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” - Mt. 6:33

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” - Matthew 9:36-38

“I serve God and His Kingdom above all else and I am willing to do whatever God calls me to do”?