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GUEST
ARTICLE
The Christian
and Work
(Proverbs
6:6-11; 10:4,5; 13:4; 15:19; 18:9; 20:4; 24:30-34)
"Work is for those who
don't know how to fish." "I
owe, I owe, so off to work I go!" "I'd
rather be shopping." People have all manner
of slogans and bumper stickers by which they express
a certain work ethic or disposition toward work. Some
are humorous, others are pathetic, but they all reveal
an attitude toward work which hardly becomes the Christian.
So tell me, what should be our attitude toward
work? Or to put it another way, what's so great about
work?
Work exercises body
or mind. God blessed us with minds,
and bodies to cart them around in. Part of our stewardship
of these gifts is to strive for strength and health of
body and mind. Work most definitely contributes to this
end (provided we also know how to rest from our labors).
This makes a good place to note that if our work is strong
in one dimension of exercise, we ought to discipline
ourselves to exercise ourselves in the other dimension.
In other words, those whose work primarily exercises
their body should find ways to exercise their mind as
well. And if your occupation mostly occupies your mind,
then make times for exercising your body. You are steward
of both mind and body.
Work builds and fortifies
character. Work
disciplines the worker in many ways -- scheduling, promptness,
quality, self-discipline and self-denial are just several.
Who feels like getting up in the morning? Well, if you've
got a job you don't have to feel like getting
up! Who wants to do such and so? If you're job demands
it you don't have to want to! If I don't know
how to do it, can I just let it go? If my job requires
it, the answer is no. Ah, so many ways work does marvelous
things for our character!
Work enables service. In one form or another, work
empowers us to serve. Farmer, secretary, doctor, programmer,
carpenter, nurse, assemblyman, mother -- we can easily
see the ways of service. And if you find yourself in an
occupation that somehow doesn't seem to allow you to serve
others directly, then direct a portion of your earnings
to service. In addition to that, ask the Lord to show you
how to serve those with whom and for whom you work.
Work makes people
productive. Life is more than fun. And
life is more than just doing something. God has given
us this precious gift and He expects that we expend and
invest it wisely. He wants us to present Him with some
fruit at life's end. It is not good that we just "bum
around"--we must be productive contributors to society...and
to the Kingdom of God. So, if you would "rather
be fishing," then perhaps you should join a fishing
crew. Or become a missionary and fish for souls!
I know. Work can become drudgery.
Work can darken life. Work can dampen and stifle the soul.
Work can ruin the body. If you already find yourself in
such a work situation, or if you are anticipating joining
the work force and want to avoid such a lot, begin by asking
God to build or renew in you a godly disposition toward
work. Then ask the experienced workers for advice. Devise
a simple question to ask, then save and study the answers.
And whatever you do, do it with heart, soul and spirit
as unto the Lord! Remember that slothfulness and carelessness
in one area of your life will surely reproduce themselves
in other areas as well. So if you discover an unhealthy
disposition toward one type of work...be warned and strive
to be healthy!
Lesson 10 -- third quarter
1998, August 9, 1998
--Mark Roth, copyright 1998,
Christian Light Publications
anabaptists.org/clp/youth/10-398.html
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