About Work

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have a right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”” 2 Thessalonians 3v7-10 (NIV)

Beloved, what is your attitude to work? What example are you setting? Are you willing to work? What are you doing with your time, talent, and treasures? The other day, I learnt some lessons from the parable (Matthew 25v14-30) of the man who travelled to a far country and gave his servants talents – 5, 2, and 1 according to their several ability. 1. We have each been given something – talent, time, money, skills, abilities and so on. 2. This has been given to us according to the ability that we have. 3. Because it is dependent on our own ability and given as seemed fit our Master, we cannot afford to compare ourselves to others, but need to be faithful in using what we have been given. 4. There is a time frame within which you must use this – our Lord Jesus may come back at any time. 5. We are accountable for what we do with what we have been given and who we are. We would give account to God for what we have done here on earth. 6. Invest, occupy till He comes – but don’t bury what has been given you or be idle. My sense is that we may not get it right all the time, but we cannot afford not to do anything because of the fear of failure. 7. We need to have the right attitude towards work. The man who was given the single talent buried his, because he felt his master was hard and wanted to reap where he had not sown. But we need to realize that we belong to God, and everything we have comes from Him. You may say well – I am the one doing the work so why does He want to require something from me, I owe Him nothing. Wrong! You owe Him everything – your life, time, skills, abilities, strength, profit everything. The question becomes would you submit to Him as Lord over your life, with the attitude and knowledge that you were created for a purpose or would you remain as an unprofitable servant?

Supplementary Text

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2v10 (NIV)

Prayer

Father, I thank You for Your Word this day. I pray that if I have been idle, disruptive and sowing discord among the brethren, please forgive me. Please help me to use every resource and faculty and part of me for the glory of Your name in Jesus name, amen.