We live in a world where many expect others to work to support them. Work is generally not looked upon as a pleasant thing to do. Yet it is a design by God for us to take care of ourselves. The results of hard work can give you a very satisfied feeling as you enjoy the benefits of your labor. However, the joy of working seems to get lost in the idea that we deserve a life that is easy and labor-free. If you doubt this just listen closely when people get together and talk about work. There will be many complaints that range from having to work too hard, to not feeling they are paid well for their efforts. They expect compliments for doing their job and special recognition for doing what they were paid to do. I owned a business back in the 90’s and I remember asking an employee to do something and the response was “You could say please.” That attitude has gotten worse over the years. Instead of feeling blessed to have a job many look at the employer as “blessed” to have their presence. Work was God’s idea. Work was in the plan for mankind from the day he sinned. Adam now would work and earn his food by the sweat of his brow. Now the land would have thorns and thistles making it harder to grow food. It would take hard labor to grow food to feed the family. After the fall of man, all creation would work to sustain itself.
Genesis 3:17-19 “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”
Disgruntled laborers are nothing new. In Matthew chapter 20, Jesus gives us a great example of workers feeling like they did not get what they deserved. Yet, they each received what they had agreed to in the beginning. Jesus gave us a clear picture of the selfish prideful heart of mankind in this passage.
Matthew 20:1-15 “For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour, he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? “
As a Christian, I am to work for what I have and take care of the things God has blessed me with. We are never to be lazy and feel entitled to have the things God has blessed us with. In Ephesians 2:10, we are created for good works. Those good works are not for the gain of eternal life but as a testimony to those around us of Christ being in us. It is an expression of gratitude for what God has already done.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
If we have been saved by the blood of the Lamb, we are forgiven and we have an inheritance in Heaven. We are ambassadors here as long as God sees fit for us to live in this world. We are a new creation in Him. We are an example to others of the difference Jesus can make in their lives too. We must be diligent and purposeful in all we do. As we labor for Christ, pray for a sweet attitude, a sensitive spirit, and actions that glorify God. Because we are a new creature in Him, we have the power within us to work in a way that will honor Him, and others will notice the difference.
II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
It is check-up time. How do you feel about the work God has given to you? Are you thankful or is it drudgery and you cannot wait to exit each day? Are you grateful for all God has blessed you with, or are you ready to toss things when they need fixing and buy the latest replacement? What is your attitude about working in your home? If you are a woman it is the home that God has given you as your first area of responsibility to work. That is not a popular idea in our culture but it is God’s design. We were created to work!
Titus 2:5 “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
