Made to Work with Honor

Gen 2:15 NKJV - Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

God made man to tend the garden, but he also gave man authority over the earth. The work we do and how we do it impacts more than ourselves. We usually do not work alone and we have the power to do things right or wrong. We have the power to stand up to wrong ethics at work. If you know things are not being done correctly and don’t say anything about it, you are agreeing with what the company is doing. Many people do not speak up because they do not want to lose their jobs. Times can be rough, but we are not to fear as Christians. We should present the issue to management with ways to correct it and show how it is more beneficial to do it right. If things don’t change, at least you know you tried with a solid effort.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 NKJV - For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.

We should be willing to work if we are able bodied. A mentality of entitlement is taking over our country where people think the government should give them all sorts of free things. Well, the government would not have the money to do that if there were not working people to tax. You should be working for what you want. Being a burden to others does not help anyone. If we all work together greater things can happen and we can acquire more than what we think we are entitled to. For example, the remnant of Israel that returned to Israel had issues building up the wall around Jerusalem again due to adversaries on all sides. Nehemiah 4:6 NKJV, So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Once they all were of a mind to work, they managed to get something done. Sure it was only half its height, but that was better than no wall at all.

Titus 2:6-8 NKJV - Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,  sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

The verses in Titus sum this all up. We should be people of integrity who are willing to work. We should do all things as if we are doing them for God. We are not here to impress each other, but to help each other. Charles Spurgeon said, “He is no Christian who does not seek to serve his God. The very motto of the Christian should be ‘I serve.’” We serve God by serving those around us. Serving takes work. Even Jesus served those around him. If the Lord of Lords can serve, why shouldn’t we do the same and do it as if doing it for Him? Our work down here matters even if it is only a finite portion of our eternity.