adopted from l. byars, 2/90. revised by tony e. denton for this presentation, 6/07....

Adopted from L. Byars, 2/90.Revised by Tony E. Dentonfor this presentation, 6/07.ASiteForTheLord.com

It seems that the pagans of Christ’s day viewed labor as for slaves; work was degrading & avoided because of the effort involved. Notice…

It seems that the pagans of Christ’s day viewed labor as for slaves; work was degrading & avoided because of the effort involved. Notice…

Acts 17:21: All the Athenians and the foreigners … spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or hear some new thing.

Ephesians 4:28: Let him who stole steal no longer, rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may … give to him who has need.

First Thessalonians 4:11: Work with your hands, as we commanded you. And…

Second Thessalonians 3:10-11: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. We hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all.

Acts 17:21: All the Athenians and the foreigners … spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or hear some new thing.

Ephesians 4:28: Let him who stole steal no longer, rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may … give to him who has need.

First Thessalonians 4:11: Work with your hands, as we commanded you. And…

Second Thessalonians 3:10-11: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. We hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all.

This distaste for work is even reflected to some extent in our society today.

The 1960s saw the rise of the hippie subculture in America, a group that had the demoralizing attitude that work is a curse on man.

Today government welfare has taught many of our citizens that they can live better by not working, causing work to lose its value. So…

OUR QUESTION FOR TODAY IS THIS:HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS VIEW WORK?

This distaste for work is even reflected to some extent in our society today.

The 1960s saw the rise of the hippie subculture in America, a group that had the demoralizing attitude that work is a curse on man.

Today government welfare has taught many of our citizens that they can live better by not working, causing work to lose its value. So…

OUR QUESTION FOR TODAY IS THIS:HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS VIEW WORK?

LABOR POSSESSES VALUE.LABOR POSSESSES VALUE.The value of labor is seen in the creation.

Labor was God-ordained in the work of creation: Genesis 1:1 states that In the beginning God created

the heavens and the earth. Later…

He created man and placed him in a garden to work:

Genesis 2:8 & 15 tell us that God planted a garden and that He put man in the garden … to tend ... it. (Labor before man’s fall reveals the importance that

God placed on labor for man’s own good.) In fact…

Everything God pronounced good in creation was a product of His labor: light (Gen. 1:3-4), water & land (9-10), vegetation (11-12), stars, moon, & sun (16-18), animals & mammals (20-25), and even man (26-31).

The value of labor is seen in the creation.

Labor was God-ordained in the work of creation: Genesis 1:1 states that In the beginning God created

the heavens and the earth. Later…

He created man and placed him in a garden to work:

Genesis 2:8 & 15 tell us that God planted a garden and that He put man in the garden … to tend ... it. (Labor before man’s fall reveals the importance that

God placed on labor for man’s own good.) In fact…

Everything God pronounced good in creation was a product of His labor: light (Gen. 1:3-4), water & land (9-10), vegetation (11-12), stars, moon, & sun (16-18), animals & mammals (20-25), and even man (26-31).

LABOR POSSESSES VALUE.LABOR POSSESSES VALUE.The value of labor is taught by harsh realities.

As a result of man’s sin, he was cast into a harsh world where labor became a toil: Genesis 3:17b-19a read, To Adam God said, “Cursed in the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you…. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground”; but there’s

value even in this: the thorns and thistles of life al- ways keep the consequences of sin before us.

Even the eroding power of time, use, & the elements cause the work of maintenance to be a valuable labor: Ecclesiastes 10:18 reads, Because of laziness the building decays and … the house leaks.

The value of labor is taught by harsh realities.

As a result of man’s sin, he was cast into a harsh world where labor became a toil: Genesis 3:17b-19a read, To Adam God said, “Cursed in the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you…. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground”; but there’s

value even in this: the thorns and thistles of life al- ways keep the consequences of sin before us.

Even the eroding power of time, use, & the elements cause the work of maintenance to be a valuable labor: Ecclesiastes 10:18 reads, Because of laziness the building decays and … the house leaks.

LABOR POSSESSES VALUE.LABOR POSSESSES VALUE.

The value of labor is experienced in rest.

We experience the satisfaction of accomplishment once our labor is completed.

As God created things He saw His work was good,

but not until it was completed did He see that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Likewise…

When we look at our to-do list and notice every item crossed out, we feel the satisfaction of accomplishment; labor allows us to feel this satisfaction and so is profitable for our contentment.


We experience the satisfaction of accomplishment once our labor is completed.

As God created things He saw His work was good,

but not until it was completed did He see that it was very good (Genesis 1:31). Likewise…

When we look at our to-do list and notice every item crossed out, we feel the satisfaction of accomplishment; labor allows us to feel this satisfaction and so is profitable for our contentment.

LABOR POSSESSES VALUE.LABOR POSSESSES VALUE.The value of labor is experienced in rest.

We find peacefulness in rest because of labor.

Before God found value in rest, He labored: Gene- sis 2:1-2a read, The heavens and the earth and all the host of them were finished. So … God ended His work which He had done, and He rested.

Labor gives our rest value; divorce labor from rest,

and our rest becomes restlessness: Proverbs 26: 14 reads, As a door turns on its hinges, so the slothful turns on his bed; and Ecclesiastes 5:12 reads, The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.


We find peacefulness in rest because of labor.

Before God found value in rest, He labored: Gene- sis 2:1-2a read, The heavens and the earth and all the host of them were finished. So … God ended His work which He had done, and He rested.

Labor gives our rest value; divorce labor from rest,

and our rest becomes restlessness: Proverbs 26: 14 reads, As a door turns on its hinges, so the slothful turns on his bed; and Ecclesiastes 5:12 reads, The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.

LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.In spite of the value of labor, many believe that la-bor is empty and futile: Ecclesiastes 2:18-22 read, I hated all my labor in which I had toiled…, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise…. This is vanity. Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled…. For there’s a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, & skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who hasn’t labored for it. This also is vanity & a great evil. For what has man for all his labor and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled…?

In spite of the value of labor, many believe that la-bor is empty and futile: Ecclesiastes 2:18-22 read, I hated all my labor in which I had toiled…, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise…. This is vanity. Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled…. For there’s a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, & skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who hasn’t labored for it. This also is vanity & a great evil. For what has man for all his labor and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled…?

LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.

The only solution for such a vain view of work is to convince oneself that his labor is in fact good.

Solomon went on to say in Ecclesiastes 2:24 that Nothing is better for a man than that … his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. Then…

In 3:22 he wrote, So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his lot.

The only solution for such a vain view of work is to convince oneself that his labor is in fact good.

Solomon went on to say in Ecclesiastes 2:24 that Nothing is better for a man than that … his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. Then…

In 3:22 he wrote, So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his lot.

So… … So… …

LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.Why do many people see work as unimportant?Well, there are at least four reasons:

1. Many see their jobs as a means to achieve self- esteem and recognition. They’re the ones who are driven to be the best in their fields. Life has purpose when they achieve this esteem, so their jobs are seen as the means to attain their goals.

2. Others see their jobs as a means to get power and

control. They’re the ones who want to be rich and

high on the corporate ladder & social scale. They hunger & thirst for power to give their lives mean-

ing and purpose; so their work is viewed as the means to attain this end.

Why do many people see work as unimportant?Well, there are at least four reasons:

1. Many see their jobs as a means to achieve self- esteem and recognition. They’re the ones who are driven to be the best in their fields. Life has purpose when they achieve this esteem, so their jobs are seen as the means to attain their goals.

2. Others see their jobs as a means to get power and

control. They’re the ones who want to be rich and

high on the corporate ladder & social scale. They hunger & thirst for power to give their lives mean-

ing and purpose; so their work is viewed as the means to attain this end.

LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.Why do many people see work as unimportant?Well, there are at least four reasons:

3. Others see work as the means to achieve plea- sure. They see life void of purpose unless they’re having a good time, so in order to give life this purpose, they’ll work on the week days to afford to party on the weekends, making work the necessary evil that gives life purpose.

4. Still others see work as an end in itself. They’re compulsive workers—not comfortable unless busy at work. Deep down they know their lives are void of real purpose, so (although God didn’t mean for it to be such) they make labor a purpose

for living—they work to have something to do.

Why do many people see work as unimportant?Well, there are at least four reasons:

3. Others see work as the means to achieve plea- sure. They see life void of purpose unless they’re having a good time, so in order to give life this purpose, they’ll work on the week days to afford to party on the weekends, making work the necessary evil that gives life purpose.

4. Still others see work as an end in itself. They’re compulsive workers—not comfortable unless busy at work. Deep down they know their lives are void of real purpose, so (although God didn’t mean for it to be such) they make labor a purpose

for living—they work to have something to do.

LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.LABOR CAN POSSESS FUTILITY.

What then is the purpose of labor?

1. Labor is to sustain life: Second Thessalonians 3:10 reads, Even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

2. Labor is to support our families: First Timothy 5:8

reads, If anyone does not provide for his own, es- pecially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

So labor is to honor God—not to give purpose to life!

What then is the purpose of labor?

1. Labor is to sustain life: Second Thessalonians 3:10 reads, Even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

2. Labor is to support our families: First Timothy 5:8

reads, If anyone does not provide for his own, es- pecially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

So labor is to honor God—not to give purpose to life!

HOW CAN WE HONOR GODIN OUR LABOR?


We honor God in our labor when that labor helps advance the redemptive work of God.

While God maintains His work of creation, creation was only the basis for His great- est work—the redemption of man; this spiritual labor is the very focus of the divine purpose, and from this we realize that physical labor is necessary, but its value is insignificant in comparison to God’s spiritual work. So…

A Christian doesn’t just labor at his occupation for the sake of labor: he labors for the purpose of ad- vancing the redemptive work of God!

We honor God in our labor when that labor helps advance the redemptive work of God.

While God maintains His work of creation, creation was only the basis for His great- est work—the redemption of man; this spiritual labor is the very focus of the divine purpose, and from this we realize that physical labor is necessary, but its value is insignificant in comparison to God’s spiritual work. So…

A Christian doesn’t just labor at his occupation for the sake of labor: he labors for the purpose of ad- vancing the redemptive work of God!



Jesus is our example.

He was a fellow-laborer with God; in His creative work He made the heavens & the earth: Colossians 1:16 reads, By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on Earth, visible and invisible. … All things were created through Him and for Him.

But it took His reconciling work to bring heaven and

Earth to the Father: verses 19-20 read, It pleased the

Father … to reconcile all things to Himself by Jesus, whether things on Earth or things in heaven, having

made peace through the blood of Jesus’ cross.

Jesus is our example.

He was a fellow-laborer with God; in His creative work He made the heavens & the earth: Colossians 1:16 reads, By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on Earth, visible and invisible. … All things were created through Him and for Him.

But it took His reconciling work to bring heaven and

Earth to the Father: verses 19-20 read, It pleased the

Father … to reconcile all things to Himself by Jesus, whether things on Earth or things in heaven, having

made peace through the blood of Jesus’ cross.



Through physical labor God prepared His Son to do His work.

By God’s design Jesus wasn’t born to a king, but to a carpenter (Mat. 13:55a). And being the son of a carpenter, Jesus probably learned the trade of His father, for the rabbis said, He who doesn’t teach his son a craft is, as it were, bringing him up to robbery.

Just as Moses was taken from Pharoah’s palace and

made a shepherd to prepare him to be a shepherd of

God’s people, so also Jesus was taken from the por- tals of Heaven & made a carpenter so that He could learn to fashion men into new creations. Then…

Through physical labor God prepared His Son to do His work.

By God’s design Jesus wasn’t born to a king, but to a carpenter (Mat. 13:55a). And being the son of a carpenter, Jesus probably learned the trade of His father, for the rabbis said, He who doesn’t teach his son a craft is, as it were, bringing him up to robbery.

Just as Moses was taken from Pharoah’s palace and

made a shepherd to prepare him to be a shepherd of

God’s people, so also Jesus was taken from the por- tals of Heaven & made a carpenter so that He could learn to fashion men into new creations. Then…



Jesus glorified God by accomplishing His work.

As He labored to bring men to God, Jesus spoke of- ten about His work.

In John 4:34 He said, My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work.

In John 5:17 He said, My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.

In John 5:36 He said, The work which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do— bear witness of Me that the Father has sent Me.


As He labored to bring men to God, Jesus spoke of- ten about His work.

In John 4:34 He said, My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work.

In John 5:17 He said, My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.

In John 5:36 He said, The work which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do— bear witness of Me that the Father has sent Me.




He was compelled to accomplish this work, for through His labor God was glorified: in John 17:4 Jesus said to God, I have glorified You on the earth.

I have finished the work that you gave Me to do.

Through His sacrificial labor we became God’s workmanship: Ephesians 2:10 reads, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared….

Jesus gave God honor by purposing to do God’s work, working with God in man’s redemption and accomplishing His work. Like Jesus…


He was compelled to accomplish this work, for through His labor God was glorified: in John 17:4 Jesus said to God, I have glorified You on the earth.

I have finished the work that you gave Me to do.

Through His sacrificial labor we became God’s workmanship: Ephesians 2:10 reads, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared….

Jesus gave God honor by purposing to do God’s work, working with God in man’s redemption and accomplishing His work. Like Jesus…



We’re workers together with God, something that’s true in at least three ways:

1. When we make God’s work our purpose in life, we’re workers together with Him.

The soul of man hungers for an eternal purpose to which he can give his whole life; such an abid- ing purpose gives life stability and focus.

We can learn a great lesson here from the call at Jacob’s Well:


1. When we make God’s work our purpose in life, we’re workers together with Him.

The soul of man hungers for an eternal purpose to which he can give his whole life; such an abid- ing purpose gives life stability and focus.

We can learn a great lesson here from the call at Jacob’s Well:

The disciples asked Jesus to take bread, but He had found true nourishment in the work of God: in John 4:32-34 Jesus said, “I have food to eat of which you do not know. Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of God and to finish His work.”

As the Samaritans were drawing near (vv. 29-30), Jesus called His disciples to the work of God, not the harvest of wheat, but of men: verse 35 has Jesus saying, Do you not say, “There are still four months, and then comes the harvest?” Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

The disciples asked Jesus to take bread, but He had found true nourishment in the work of God: in John 4:32-34 Jesus said, “I have food to eat of which you do not know. Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of God and to finish His work.”

As the Samaritans were drawing near (vv. 29-30), Jesus called His disciples to the work of God, not the harvest of wheat, but of men: verse 35 has Jesus saying, Do you not say, “There are still four months, and then comes the harvest?” Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!




2. When we allow God to prepare us for His work via our trade, we’re workers together with Him.

Physical labor is a discipline that requires the exercise of character; and since God needs responsible, equitable, disciplined, and persevering

workers, let’s consider these three questions:


2. When we allow God to prepare us for His work via our trade, we’re workers together with Him.

Physical labor is a discipline that requires the exercise of character; and since God needs responsible, equitable, disciplined, and persevering

workers, let’s consider these three questions:

A. Has our work made us responsible? The ability to be accountable for our actions and to our boss- es is responsibility; First Corinthians 4:2 reads, It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

B. Has our labor made us equitable? The require- ment of justice that demands honesty and fairness

on the job is equity, such as in giving a full day’s work for a full day’s pay: as Second Timothy 2:15 alludes to, let us be workers who do not need to be

ashamed.

C. Has our labor made us persevering? The ability to endure through a task until it’s finished is persevering: in Matthew 10:22 Jesus said, You will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who en- dures to the end will be saved.

A. Has our work made us responsible? The ability to be accountable for our actions and to our boss- es is responsibility; First Corinthians 4:2 reads, It is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

B. Has our labor made us equitable? The require- ment of justice that demands honesty and fairness

on the job is equity, such as in giving a full day’s work for a full day’s pay: as Second Timothy 2:15 alludes to, let us be workers who do not need to be

ashamed.

C. Has our labor made us persevering? The ability to endure through a task until it’s finished is persevering: in Matthew 10:22 Jesus said, You will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who en- dures to the end will be saved.



We are workers together with God; this is true in at least three ways:

3. When our work becomes a ministry, we’re workers together with God.

Our attitude toward work must be that work isn’t just a means of support; to the Christian it’s a means of ministry through which he can advance God’s work of redemption, directly while at work and indirectly with his wages for preachers.



Our attitude toward work must be that work isn’t just a means of support; to the Christian it’s a means of ministry through which he can advance God’s work of redemption, directly while at work and indirectly with his wages for preachers.





We need to serve our employers with the dedica- tion of a servant of Christ: Ephesians 6:5-7 read, Servants, be obedient to … your masters (or employers) … with fear and trembling [and] in sin- cerity of heart as to Christ; not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord and not to men.



We need to serve our employers with the dedica- tion of a servant of Christ: Ephesians 6:5-7 read, Servants, be obedient to … your masters (or employers) … with fear and trembling [and] in sin- cerity of heart as to Christ; not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord and not to men.





We need to reflect the character of God in our work by being faithful, diligent, honest, and persevering; this is living the godly life before our associates.

We need to declare the Gospel to associates, directly at work or by setting up studies; at work isn’t the place for religious debates, but it is the perfect place to interest our friends in the Gospel.



We need to reflect the character of God in our work by being faithful, diligent, honest, and persevering; this is living the godly life before our associates.

We need to declare the Gospel to associates, directly at work or by setting up studies; at work isn’t the place for religious debates, but it is the perfect place to interest our friends in the Gospel.





We need to do our best to expand our circles of influence through excellence in our jobs: Pro- verbs 22:29 reads, Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.

This striving for excellence isn’t to give our lives purpose; the work of God has given us that. Our passion for excellence should be for the sole purpose of becoming more effective in God’s work.



We need to do our best to expand our circles of influence through excellence in our jobs: Pro- verbs 22:29 reads, Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.

This striving for excellence isn’t to give our lives purpose; the work of God has given us that. Our passion for excellence should be for the sole purpose of becoming more effective in God’s work.

In Conclusion…In Conclusion…

1. The Christian places great value in labor.

2. Work is necessary for life, but it isn’t the purpose of life.

3. Physical labor achieves its highest aspiration when it honors and glorifies God.

The true occupation of a Christian is to further the work of God. So…

We should strive to excel in our jobs for the glory of God!

1. The Christian places great value in labor.

2. Work is necessary for life, but it isn’t the purpose of life.

3. Physical labor achieves its highest aspiration when it honors and glorifies God.

The true occupation of a Christian is to further the work of God. So…

We should strive to excel in our jobs for the glory of God!

adopted from l. byars, 2/90. revised by tony e. denton for this presentation, 6/07....

Documents

work of creation

slaves work

value of labor

christians view work

beginning god

god pronou

hippie subculture

demoralizing attitude