Friday: Further Thought ~ The Christian and Work
Further Thought:
Read Genesis 3:1-24, Ecclesiastes 2:18-23, Ephesians 6:5-8; Read Ellen G.White, “The Temptation and Fall,” pages 52-62, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
Work – a curse or blessing? It seemed to come as part of the curse of sin (Gen: 3:17). A closer reading reveals it was the ground that was cursed, and not the work. Ellen G. White states that God intended this commission to work as a blessing: “The life of toil and care which was henceforth to be man’s lot was appointed in love. It was a discipline rendered needful by his sin, to place a check upon the indulgence of appetite and passion, to develop habits of self-control. It was a part of God’s great plan for man’s recovery from the ruin and degradation of sin.” — Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 60. Might we perhaps have made it a curse through monotony, overwork, or overvaluing its role in our lives? Whatever our situation, we must learn to put work in its proper perspective. And Christian education must help train people to learn the value of work, while at the same time not making an idol out of it.
Discussion Questions:
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Have you ever met up with someone you have not seen for a long time? The usual topic of conversation goes something like this:
Bill, "So what are you up to these days?"
Tom, "I am managing the Acme Construction company. What are you doing nowadays, Bill?"
Bill, "I'm working for the local council weeding the gardens in the parks"
Almost immediately there is a bit of a brain shuffle as the old acquaintances place themselves one against the other in the socioeconomic strata.
We are pretty elitist when it comes to work, ranking one another on the scale of perceived responsibility, pay scale, and social standing. There is no doubt that some jobs hold more responsibility than others, and some jobs are glamorous while others are drudgery. But in our dealings with others, we need to be both courteous and respectful. Maybe the "beauty of holiness" that has been mentioned earlier this week has a practical application in the way we view one another and the work we do. Perhaps that was what Jesus was thinking in this account:
There is no room for elitism when sharing the Gospel.
Work is a blessing. But as in all, we must learn to balance everything. Too much work can be stressful, but laziness pays no bills! The honest work leaves no time for evil plans.
The earth is the Lord and the fulness thereof, the world and them that dwells therein. Psm 24:1
The Christian and Work
I have talks with Jesus many times especially when the day seems long and pressing and people are so unthankful and ungrateful to others and myself at work. I would say, I should just retire from this work. I went to Jesus several times and asked him what he thinks. So one day he sent me to that above quotation. I asked myself, then what will I do with all of this time because I am far from retirement age. We should see work as a blessing and not a curse. If we like our jobs, we will find joy in it despite the people around us who we have to deal with, although they might he unthankful and ungrateful.
We are placed there for a greater reason than just getting money.
Even when we do not like our jobs, we can find small blessings in the situation when we look. Some days it feels like a treasure hunt, but if we are working as for God and not man, He will bless us regardless of how we feel.
What if you had an adult son or daughter. They did all the things that would make most parents proud. They had a responsible job that helped a lot of people and they really put their all into it. In fact, many others in their field looked up to them and they were somewhat of an expert and advisor and traveled the country in that capacity. They participated in volunteer activities and were active in community improvements. They had quality time with their spouse and were raising their kids very well.
They sent you gifts on your birthday and Christmas and called once a week. Sometimes a few weeks went by without them calling. The phone chats were brief, they often asked you for something, and the cards they sent you occasionally said "I love you" though not too much else. You knew they loved you, but you felt sad that they didn't seem to want to include you in their adult lives that much.
You missed them. You missed how it was when you were raising them. The days of playing together, snuggling in bed together, cooking together, hearing their stories when they came home from school. Summers you might have a project together and that was fun too. You remembered one summer painting the house and the whole family joined, scraping and putting up ladders and relaxing at night with a BBQ. You're the one who had taught them the joys of community service and you recalled sorting cans at the local food bank with them.
What if this grown-up child lived nearby. Actually, what if they lived below you. You had split your house into 2 units and they had the ground floor. They could come see you anytime any day, but they rarely did. They were very busy doing good things.
This little story God told me this morning to ask me into a closer relationship...
We have access to God our Father all the time (Heb 10:22; Eph 3:12). He lives with us. Even closer, He lives in us (1 John 4:12-13). He made us to work WITH Him. He wants us to share the labor and fun of working side by side, yoked together (Matt 11:28-30). Scripture also shows us a picture of what it's like to work on our own, not yoked to God (Psalm 127:1-2). I love how vs. 2 says "he grants sleep to those he loves". Obviously God loves everyone, so I read that as "those who have labored together with their heavenly Father all day wind down with Him too, they give each other high 5s, they hear 'job well done' and celebrate together (Matt 25:23 CEB), they close their eyes at night with a smile on their face saying 'thank you' ".
Work is a curse or not?
No, work is not a curse. It were been given from the beginning, when God creat a man put him in the charge of every living thing.
We are supposed to work hard to feed ourselves.
The lesson writer states -‘A Christian education must help educate people in the true value of work, while at the same time not making an idol out of it’ - I agree! As long as we attempt to manifest our own ‘name/glory’ in the work in which we ‘toil’, we will not have the satisfaction of the true blessing coming from doing a job well in the eyes of the Lord. All work done should be done to the Honor and Glory of God.
Eccl.2:18-23KJV - Using Salomon’s experience, I can understand what goes on in the mind of a successful man. I can read how concerned and disheartened he became as he contemplated his legacy. All the great work he had accomplished - ..’because I must leave it to the man who will come after me; 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 under the sun.’,
I can find the cost and anguish of the toiling man working to establish a name for himself: gaining wisdom, knowledge and skill, the striving of his heart, the sorrowful days, the burdensome work and sleepless nights.
And in his conclusion he states the following: Eccl.2:24-26KJV -
“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in this labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
For God giveth to a man that is good in His sight - wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner, He giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
What then is the only aspect of work which does not end up as that which we consider vanity? As I see it, it is the joy and satisfaction a grateful living soul experiences which dedicates itself and all its work and toils to the Honor and Glory of the Lord.
His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of the Lord Matt 25:23.
The Lord has given all of us talent. Some one, two, three and more. If someone has one talent and thinks to himself, I will not use it because if I do and gain means, someone else will come after my death and inherit it. That is foolishness, the Lord will judge that person as we saw in the Matt 25:25.
If someone was given five talents but refused to use all of them when he/she had the opportunities, the strength, and the times, the Lord will judge them accordingly. The Lord is the one who gives talents for us to bring glory to him whether we die leaving riches for others or not.
Many times people read the story in Luke 12:16-21 and misinterpret its meaning. Thinking it is wrong to build barns and storing up things for oneself is wrong. But if we understood the Jewish economy people building barns were a way of life. Six years for planting, reaping, preserving, and placing into barns. The seventh year was no farming. Farming restarts the eight year and reaping was the ninth year. All those times the people used the stored food to prepare meals all year round.
By the parable of the foolish rich man, Christ showed the folly of those who make the world their all. {COL 256.1}.
The situation of the poor, the orphan, the widow, the suffering, the afflicted, was brought to this rich man’s attention; there were many places in which to bestow his goods. He could easily have relieved himself of a portion of his abundance, and many homes would have been freed from want, many who were hungry would have been fed, many naked clothed, many hearts made glad, many prayers for bread and clothing answered, and a melody of praise would have ascended to heaven. The Lord had heard the prayers of the needy, and of His goodness He had prepared for the poor. (Psalm 68:10.) Abundant provision for the wants of many had been made in the blessings bestowed upon the rich man. But he closed his heart to the cry of the needy, and said to his servants, “This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” {COL 256.2}
I do not want this to be my fate although I am not counted with the rich like this man, but the principle remains the same. As ye have done to the least of these my brethren, you have done it to me. Matt 25:40.
Thank you for the cultural reminder of storing in barns being a way of life for the Jews. I find much deeper meaning in Scripture when I understand the cultural, historical, and even geographical background that plays into it.
When I think of work, I see the mind and body uniting in concert through toil and discipline with God's Grace which fill' us with purpose. I remember teaching my children that discipline was the straightening of a imperfect stick into a product which we could be proud of. Something that was bent or crooked into something straight. We have all been given gift's by our Creator and these are to be exercised to produce (God' gift of co-creation) the fruit of our labor. I would explain that God has given each of us at least one gift and some multiple, but it is how we exercise each that we'll come to recognize our partnership with God's Will in our life's. I believe we are stewards of these gift's and The Lord entrust and encourages us to participate in work. We recognize that some have more gifts than are exercised and some will never know the joy of purpose and will have lost the zeal and passion that our Father has given in each of His children. By imbuing in our heart' His Spirit we will learn from His teaching' and when we allow His work to bend and straighten in our life we will begin to produce fruit. Mankind has lost their purpose because of a shorter and in some cases easier path and in doing so will come, in later years, to regret the path they chose. If only we would had explored our gifts that were given to us we would have had a stronger sense of purpose and accomplishment in this life. The Lord teaches in the parable of the talents that it is in the quality of instead of the quantity of work. The Lord also gives us a glimpse into the New Heaven and the New Earth where we will work and not be weary. I believe He has set aside for us our dreams and gift' that are from our heart and has work for us all in a world without strife. Each with their own passions and each with our own vision' of producing for the Glory of God.
How often do we regard "education" as that which takes place from K-12, and for some, the "higher education" at a university, and then eventually, we all(hopefully) end up at "work"?(even/especially the stay-at-home moms/dads) Yet how many consider "work" as "education" taking place for the rest of one's life?
Perhaps some look at their mundane work as taking them nowhere, and wonder how THAT could be considered education?! I suppose it will depend on our focus and our basic approach to life as we understand it. Are we owners or stewards? Asking ourselves: "WHOM do I live to please?" should help us realize if we think ourselves as owners or stewards.
Solomon is mentioned above, somewhat out of context, since we must always read Ecclesiastes as a whole to really understand Solomon's meaning. We cannot understand any part Ecclesiastes without careful consideration of his "conclusion of the whole matter" which all the previous chapters/verses are about. The conclusion keeps before us the true purpose of this life, and that we are all stewards, and that every work(good or evil, open or secret), and, according to Jesus, "every idle word"(!), will be brought into judgment. Our work is a stewardship, and I believe it is also continuing education until we all come to that final reckoning. All we do in this life is either bringing us closer to or further from the Image of God in our own life. Isn't this the conclusion of "the whole matter" of living?
This is good to know isn't it? Aren't we all more thoughtful and careful when speaking "on the record"? Well, we are, in all we do and say. Knowing this should help us understand the purpose/meaning of "The Christian and Work".