WORK – ½ your life Age doesn’t matter Income doesn’t matter Young Mid-Life Old Income doesn’t matter Rich Poor In Between Type of work doesn’t matter Physical Spiritual Relational

WORK and God God Created Us to Work God Commanded Us to Work God Told Us WHY we Work God Told Us HOW to Work

Created to WORK Work in the Beginning (Gen. 1:15-17) Work Keep Benefit from the work Work Changes after Curse (Gen. 3:17-19) Painful Hard Continuous Work Still a Blessing (Eccl. 3:9-13; 5:18-20) Joyful Good Pleasurable GOD’s GIFT

When We Don’t Work We Reject God’s Intent for Us We Reject God’s Gift to Us We Reject God in Us

Willing to work -> Doing work No absolute right not to starve Commanded to WORK 1 Thess. 4:10b-12; 2 Thess. 3:6-12 “Work with hands” - personal “Avoid the idle” “Don’t work, don’t eat” “Work quietly” “Eat own bread” Willing to work -> Doing work No absolute right not to starve

WORK to Maintain Self Avoid Poverty (Prov. 14:23) Earn living (2 Thess. 3:12) Have a right to eat (2 Thess. 3:10) Dependent on no one(1 Thess. 4:12)

WORK to Maintain Others Family (1 Timothy 5:3-8) Take care of parents/grandparents Those that don’t are worse than un-believers Those in need (Eph. 4:28) Share! Don’t hold back (Prov. 27:25-26) Righteous’ work allows generosity

Paul’s Point (2 Thess. 3:7-9) Before Outsiders (1 Thess. 4:12) WORK to be an Example Paul’s Point (2 Thess. 3:7-9) Before Outsiders (1 Thess. 4:12) We Are How Our Children Learn To value work The importance of caring for others They learn by what we do (not what we say)!

For our Necessities To Help Others To Set an Example NOT for Luxury We WORK For Godly Goals For our Necessities To Help Others To Set an Example NOT for Luxury

Diligently (Proverbs 18:9) Personally (1 Thess. 4:11; Eph. 4:28) How We WORK (1) Diligently (Proverbs 18:9) “Not slack” – Destructive Personally (1 Thess. 4:11; Eph. 4:28) “With own hands” Not intended for leisurely life Not intended to depend on the work of others

How We WORK (2) “Quietly” (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:12) Don’t work for attention Recognizing Master (Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22-24) “Doing will of God from heart” “Fear and trembling” “Not to please people” “Sincere heart” “With a good will” “Heartily” Looking toward a certain reward - “inheritance” Doing our best - “Serving the Lord Jesus Christ”

The Focus of our WORK Serious Effort Consistent Personal Involvement Not for Personal Benefit To Please Our True Master - God

Reflection (1) Is work the blessing God created for you? Does your toil give you the joy God intended? God commands you to work – are you obeying? God says to earn your own bread – are you?

Reflection (2) Do you work to maintain yourself, help others, and set an example? Are you personally working - with diligence, humility, quietness Do you recognize your true boss?