MEN AT
WORK
Reading from the NIV:
2 THESS 3:6 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. 7 For you yourselves know how you
ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 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. 9 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.
10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
13 And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right. 14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
The Message Version (paraphrase) renders it:
2 THESS 3:6-9 Our orders - backed up by the Master, Jesus - are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of
diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.
10-13 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately - no excuses, no arguments - and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty. 14-15 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice. But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.
WHY MUST
WE WORK?
After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, we read that:
Gen 3:17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Gen 3:23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
NOT PART OF THE CURSE
Adam and Eve worked – so work was part of God’s plan for mankind even before the Fall.
Contrary to popular belief, the need for man to work is not part of the curse. It is true that the ground was cursed and man was told that
he would have to work
hard to survive in the
world:
Gen 3:19 By the
sweat of your
brow you will eat
your food until
you return to
the ground...
WHY MUST WE WORK?
But before the Fall or the Curse, man had already been given work:
Gen 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
So the oldest profession is actually gardening or farming.
The point is though
that Adam and Eve
were not just sitting
around in the garden
all day eating fruit
and ‘loafing’ – they
were placed in the
garden “to work it
and take care of it”.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
God also gave Adam the ‘job’ of naming all living creatures:
Gen 2:19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
In addition to
working the garden,
both man and
woman were given
dominion over the
earth and told to
subdue and rule it:
Gen 1:28 God
blessed them
and said to
them, “Be
fruitful and
increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
WHY MUST WE WORK?
God himself works.
The process of creation
took six days and was a
‘work’ of God:
Gen 2:2 By the
seventh day God had
finished the work he
had been doing; so on
the seventh day he
rested from all his work.
But the creation is also sustained by God. Jesus said that both he and his Father continue working:
John 5:17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”
WHY MUST WE WORK?
Jesus works.
Before his ministry Jesus worked as a carpenter. Jesus was known in his hometown as “the carpenter”.
Mark 6:3 “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter?…”
WHY MUST WE WORK?
The ministry that Jesus was called to, was ‘work’ assigned by the Father:
John 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
John 5:36 “... For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.”
John 9:4 “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me...”
John 17:4 “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”
Work is honourable, because it is in the nature of our very Creator and Redeemer to work.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
Paul himself was an example of how a Christian should work.
Paul worked as a tent-maker to support his ministry. He told the Ephesian elders:
Acts 20:33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.
Paul did this even though they were entitled to support as missionaries:
1 Thess 3:9 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.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
In Corinth:
Acts 18:1-4 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila… Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed
and worked
with them.
Every
Sabbath he
reasoned in
the synagogue,
trying to
persuade
Jews and
Greeks.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
1 Cor 5:12 We
work hard with
our own hands.
In Thessalonica:
1 Thess 2:9
Surely you
remember,
brothers, our
toil and
hardship; we
worked night
and day in
order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
So we work so that we can
sustain our lives (our food and accommodation) and support
our families:
Gen 3:19 “By the sweat
of your brow you
will eat your
food...”
WHY MUST WE WORK?
We work so that we can help those in need:
Eph 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
And in so doing we receive God’s blessing:
Acts 20:33 “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold
or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that
by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said:
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
WHY MUST WE WORK?
There is satisfaction in working:
Ecc 2:24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.
Ecc 5:18 Then I realized that it is
good and proper for a man to eat
and drink, and to find satisfaction
in his toilsome labor under the sun
during the few days of life God
has given him - for this is his lot.
19 Moreover, when God gives any
man wealth and possessions, and
enables him to enjoy them, to
accept his lot and be happy in his
work - this is a gift of God.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
We work so that we can be financially independent and not reliant on anybody else – thereby winning the respect of non-Christians:
1 Thess 4:11-12 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, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Thess 4:11-12 Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You’ve heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends. (The Message)
WHY MUST WE WORK?
Christians should not have an ‘entitlement’ mentality (when we expect things for nothing) but must work for a living:
1 Thess 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 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.
9 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. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
Regarding an ‘entitlement’ mentality a Christian should realise that:
It is not the government’s responsibility to support you - unless you are earning a pension after having worked while you were able-bodied and younger – and having paid your taxes and contributed to pension fund schemes.
If you are an able-bodied man, it is not your parent’s or your family’s responsibility to support you. You should be earning your living and supporting your family – not the other way around.
It is not the church’s responsibility to support you.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
The Biblical teaching is that even those who need support (like widows) should only be assisted by the church if the following four conditions are met:
She is at least sixty years or older (i.e. not in a position to work)
1 Tim 5:9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty... 11 As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list...
Paul advises younger widows to rather remarry:
1 Tim 5:14 So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
The widow has no living family who can help her.
1 Tim 5:3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God... Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.
8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever... 16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
She was faithful to her husband when he was living.
1 Tim 5:9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she ... has been faithful to her husband...
She has good character and lives a Christian life:
1 Tim 5:9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she… 10 is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
Many people don’t even attend church, but expect the church to support them when they’re in need.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
Work is a part of our Christian testimony. If we as professing Christians are lazy, this will cause people to turn from the gospel.
Heb 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who
through faith and
patience inherit
what has been
promised.
Prov 21:25 The
sluggard’s craving
will be the death
of him, because
his hands refuse
to work.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
2 Thess 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
The Greek phrase θέλει ἐργάζεσθαι means “is not willing to work”. In other words Paul is not referring to someone who is temporarily unemployed, while looking for new employment.
2 Thess 3:11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
There were some people in the Thessalonian church who were lazy. They didn’t work to provide for themselves but lived on the kindness of other Christians.
WHY MUST WE WORK?
We are told to warn those who claim to be Christians, but who are lazy:
1 Thess 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle…
If they don’t heed the warning we are told to disassociate ourselves from those who are not willing to work:
1 Thess 3:6 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.
CHRISTIAN WORKERS
CHRISTIANS
AT WORK
Not only is the fact that we work part of our testimony, but so is our work ethic (i.e. the way we conduct ourselves in business):
As Christians we must only engage in honest work.
So it’s not enough to realise that you need to work for a living – you need to make an honest living. You cannot claim to be a Christian and engage in criminal activity e.g. drug dealing, theft, prostitution etc to make a living:
Eph 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands …
Prov 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
CHRISTIANS AT WORK
As Christians we should not be looking for easy ways to get rich without working (like gambling or the lottery):
Prov 12:11 He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
Prov 28:19 He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.
1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
CHRISTIANS AT WORK
Christians are not corrupt and do not accept bribes:
Deut 16:19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
1 Sam 8:3 But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after
dishonest gain and
accepted bribes and
perverted justice.
Job 36:18 Be careful
that no one entices
you by riches; do
not let a large bribe
turn you aside.
CHRISTIANS AT WORK
A. Christian
E.M. Ployer
28/ 05/ 2011
CHRISTIAN WORKERS ETHIC
As Christians we must be diligent and not slack in our work:
Prov 18:9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
We should work hard:
Prov 14:23 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
1 Cor 4:12 We work hard with our own hands.
As Christians we must seek to excel in our work:
Prov 22:29 Observe people who are good at their work –
skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they
don't take a back seat to anyone. (The Message)
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
Prov 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before
obscure
men.
We should work well even when we are unsupervised:
Col 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the
Lord.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
Christians should not be grumblers. We should not complain about our salary and working conditions:
Luke 3:14 Then some soldiers asked
him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money
and don’t accuse people falsely –
be content with your pay.”
As most strikes revolve around
wage increase disputes – it
follows that Christians should not
be involved in strike action, even if
they feel they are being wronged.
We present our case to God not man.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
Christians should not run
down their employers or
management.
Ex 22:28 Do not
blaspheme God or
curse the ruler of
your people.
Although this verse
applies to governing
authorities the principle is
the same for employers, teachers, parents etc and anyone in a position of authority over us. Indeed in Acts 23:5, Paul applies it to the religious leader (i.e. the High Priest Ananias) who had just ordered Paul to be unjustly struck.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
Christians don’t steal from their employers:
2 Kings 12:13 The money brought into the
temple was not spent for making silver
basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling
bowls, trumpets or any other articles
of gold or silver for the temple of
the LORD; 14 it was paid to
the workmen, who used it to
repair the temple. 15 They
did not require an accounting
from those to whom they gave
the money to pay the workers,
because they acted with
complete honesty.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
As Christians we do our work as unto the Lord:
Eph 6:5 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. 6 Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. 7 And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. 8 Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free. (The Message)
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
Col 3:22-25 Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into
your inheritance. Keep in
mind always that the
ultimate Master you’re
serving is Christ. The
sullen servant who does
shoddy work will be held
responsible. Being a
follower of Jesus doesn’t
cover up bad work.
(The Message)
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
Working as unto
the Lord means:
We don’t take
sick leave when
we’re not sick.
We should be
punctual i.e. we
don’t always
arrive late and
leave early.
We don’t ask
someone else to clock out for us.
We don’t engage in any activity that could constitute a “conflict of interest” to our place of employment.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
Notwithstanding all this, we don’t put our work before the Lord:
Ps 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves.
We don’t stop attending church because of work.
Ex 20:9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEES
CHRISTIAN
EMPLOYERS
ETHIC
A Christian businessman must be honest:
Prov 11:1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights
are his delight.
Scales were used to
measure the quantity
of the item being
sold. Having the
scales deliberately
unbalanced was a
means of cheating
people by giving them
less than what they
had paid for.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS
A Christian businessman should provide a quality product or service - at a fair price.
Amos 8:4 Hear this, you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, 5 saying, “When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?” - skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, 6 buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.
Luke 16:11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS
A Christian businessman mustn’t commit usury (charging exorbitant interest - either illegal or at least oppressive).
Ps 15:1 LORD, who may dwell in
your sanctuary? Who may live
on your holy hill?... 5 (He)
who lends his money
without usury …
Ezek 18:5
Suppose there
is a righteous
man who does
what is just and
right... 8 He does not lend at
usury or take excessive interest.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS
A Christian businessman must be financially accountable:
Rom 13:8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Creditors should be paid – and as far as it is in your control, they should be paid on time. While the trend today is to hold out as long as possible before you pay your debt – Christians should be different and not follow the way of the world.
Rom 13:7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue…
When you receive money, your first priority is to pay your creditors – not to purchase something else.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS
Christian businessmen
should pay their taxes :
Mark 12:14 ... Is it
right to pay taxes to
Caesar or not? 15 Should
we pay or shouldn’t we?”
… 17 Then Jesus said to
them, “Give to Caesar
what is Caesar’s and
to God what is God’s.”
Rom 13:6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes …
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS
Christian businessmen must be fair and considerate to their employees:
Col 4:1 And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don’t forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master - God in heaven. (The Message)
Christian managers must not be abusive or threatening:
Eph 6:9 Masters, it’s the same
with you. No abuse, please, and
no threats. You and your
servants are both under
the same Master in
heaven. He makes no
distinction between you
and them. (The Message)
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS
Christian businessmen must pay fair wages and not withhold money that is due to workers:
James 5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS
A Christian businessmen must honour contracts “even when it hurts”:
Ps 15:1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?... 4 (He) who keeps his oath even when it hurts...
We must have integrity and be men of our word:
Matt 5:37 Simply let your
‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and
your ‘No,’ ‘No’;
anything
beyond
this comes
from the
evil one.
CHRISTIAN EMPLOYERS
CAN ONLY
MEN WORK?
In Proverbs 31 we have a detailed description of “a wife of noble character”. It is clear from the description that she is a working woman:
Prov 31:10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies... 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
WORKING WOMEN
Prov 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple... 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
WORKING WOMEN
We saw earlier in Genesis 1:28 that both man and woman were told to “subdue the earth”.
Incidentally it is only women who are mentioned as supporting Jesus’ ministry financially:
Luke 8:1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
WORKING WOMEN
Paul’s first convert in Philippi was a businesswoman – who subsequently gave Paul accommodation at her home:
Acts 16:14-15 One of those
listening was a woman named
Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth
from the city of Thyatira,
who was a worshiper of God.
The Lord opened her heart
to respond to Paul’s message.
When she and the members
of her household were
baptized, she invited us to her
home. “If you consider me a
believer in the Lord,” she said,
“come and stay at my house.”
WORKING WOMEN
1 Thess 4:11-12 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, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
CLOSING EXHORTATION
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