Faith and the Workplace (Pt. 2)

(Part 2)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

                                                                                                            Colossians 3:23-24

The reality of work is this; work has nothing to do with what you do, but rather your attitude toward doing it.  The Apostle Paul had a tremendous amount to say about work and he, himself, demonstrated a strong work ethic:

“And because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.”

                                                                                                            Acts 18:3

While ministering Corinth, Paul would spend his days working as a tentmaker and his evenings preaching the gospel. Paul understood the value of hard work even going as far as to say in 2 Thessalonians 3:10:

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

Paul made this very bold statement after warning the Church at Thessalonica against the dangers of idleness:

“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 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 the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.”

                                                                                                2 Thessalonians 3:6-9

Paul cautions them about spending too much time with idle, lazy people. Work is about creating, producing, and serving. Lazy people don’t produce, they consume. Rather Paul told them, to follow his example. Paul modeled and promoted a strong work ethic:

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you.”

                                                                                    1 Thessalonians 4:11

By working hard, Paul exemplified God’s character. He recognized that when he was working, he was working for the Lord and proclaiming the creative nature of God!

Pastor Scott Burr                                                                    

http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/