It hurts me so much to see a man seated without working. It does not only affect him but those of his household and the community at large. Man was created to be a worker.
Genesis 2:15
‘Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it’. (NKJV)
Work is the first thing we read about when we open our Bibles - “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” God went to work!
Work has become a means to an end, not an end.
At the creation, man (and woman), were created to work, not as a means to an end but as an end in itself (we are not told why). Gen. 2:15. Only after the fall did work become despised. Gen. 2:19. Today, for many of us, work is so despised that we work only to meet our daily needs. We value ourselves frequently for our ability to obtain a good job through negotiation rather than skill. We value our work on the job in terms of how much we can get for as little effort as possible (more pay, better benefits, fewer hours).
We are living in a generation that sees work as part of the “curse” (Gen. 3:17-19). It will cause individuals to avoid work as much as possible. It will cause individuals to have a negative attitude toward work, instead of being a joy
There are many wrong reasons why people work.
- · To “make a living.”
- · To work to rest.
- · To accumulate wealth for luxurious living.
- · To secure the future.
- · To enhance social status.
There are many right reasons for working that will bring personal fulfillment to us and, at the same time, glory to God.
- · To serve God and cooperate with His purpose for my life (Mt. 25:21).
- · To bring glory to God and honor to His name (I Pet. 4:11; I Cor. 10:31).
- · To fulfill the dominion mandate and extend the kingdom of God in the earth (Gen. 1:26-28).
No matter what you do, you work for a reason. When you know that reason – and when you fully understand how your efforts make the world a better place for someone else – you have found your work’s purpose.
Most men want to know that their work has meaning – that it helps someone else or makes the world a better place. When men understand the deeper purpose behind their work, they are likely to be more satisfied and more productive.
Some men hate to do it. Some love to do it. Some go to great lengths to avoid doing it. Some do it too much. While there are many different attitudes toward work, one thing remains constant: work must be done. Since the Garden of Eden everyone has worked or depended on someone else's work for their survival.
Work sets a person's lifestyle—where you live, when you sleep and eat, the time with family, even your dress.
In order to work for the right reasons we must get a vision for our work.
”Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” This old Chinese proverb could not be more true. Hard work sometimes seems to be a dying art form that we are failing to teach our children. We often hear “Work smart, not hard” or some similar cliché, as if hard work is some death sentence only bestowed on the “unlucky”.
Men must work hard. There is great value in hard work. Hard work teaches perseverance, persistence, and determination. It teaches us that hard work pays off. It teaches us to push through when times are tough. Not everything in life is easy. It isn’t good to always have your hand out, waiting on someone to give you something. Work for it.
God has a clear perspective on work and we are to align our thoughts with His. As you reflect on your own attitude toward work, consider the following views of work:
1) Work is ordained by God.
It was His creative invention from the beginning. The Bible declares that God worked (Gen. 1-2). By working we resemble God. Like God, you have the ability to work, make plans, implement them, and be creative. Additionally, God gave us the task of ruling over and taking care of His creation (Gen. 1:28, 2:15).
2) Work is for a lifetime.
Genesis 3:19. "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."(NKJV) God intends that men are to work as long as they live. Meaningful activity plays a critical role in being a human being - whether paid or volunteer. The age of 60 shouldn't end meaningful, purposeful work.
3) Work is not a punishment.
God did not create work as punishment, but as a gift of fulfillment to life. A man can do nothing better than...find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment (Ecc. 2:24-25)?
4) Work has three purposes:
To provide money or resources to supply the necessities of life; to provide for a quality of life in the satisfaction of doing a job well; and to serve God.
5) Work calls for obedience.
Even when the boss isn't looking, a good worker is consistent and diligent to the task and loyal to the organization (Col. 3:22, 24). The real boss is Jesus Christ. See your work as service to Him - not simply your employer.
6) Work should be done with excellence.
You are to render service, as to the Lord, and not to men (Eph. 6:6-7); not to be men-pleasers but God-pleasers. God's standard of excellence needs to be the human standard.
7) Work is honorable.
All professions and all kinds of work, assuming they are legal and biblically ethical, are honorable before the Lord. There is no dichotomy between sacred and secular work. All work brings glory to God and fulfillment to you, if it is done to God's glory (1 Cor. 10:31).
8) Work provides an opportunity for witness.
You manifest a powerful message, both verbal and nonverbal, of a supernatural approach to work. The world today needs this powerful witness to the reality of Christ and the difference that He makes in His followers. (Matthew 5:16)
Don’t sit and do nothing. Work! Work! Work! Work! &Work!
The family and society are looking for all men to work and work hard.
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