HARD WORK

Hard Work




Work-


Physical or mental effort or activity. 2) A job; employment. 3) A profession or other means of livelihood. 4) A duty or task. 5) The part of the day devoted to an occupation. 6) Ones place of employment. 7) Something produced as the result of effort. A act; a deed; a charitable works. 9)


Worker-


1) One who works. 2) One who does manual or industrial labor.


Fact: The bible stresses that a man who does not work, does not eat!


To work is scriptural and should be looked at from two aspects, spiritual labor and physical labor. Let’s take the time in this study to find out what the bible says about work and how we should apply labor in our lives.



















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Let us look at some scriptural references to physical work and apply them to today:



Pros and Cons to Physical Labor
Scripture Con Pro
Proverbs 13:4 Lazy brings little Prosperity
Proverbs 21:5 Hastiness leads to poverty Prosperity
Eccle. 5:12 Poor sleep Sleep well
Galatians 6:4 No satisfaction Self- satisfaction
2 Thess. 3:10 Hunger No hunger
1 Timothy 5:18 Poverty Earned Wages
Note: These are just a few scriptures to give you a general idea, the bible has much more information to offer!


As you can see by the references above it is definitely more beneficial for us to labor physically than it is to be lazy and not work at all. We are living breathing examples of Christianity and our enthusiasm to labor shows others our Christian character. We are to represent Christ to the fullest and that means that we are to work literally as commanded or our “cons” are our just reward!



What does it mean to labor spiritually, and what are the pros and cons to that?

Spiritual Labor is the same as physical labor except that we are furthering the kingdom of God with our works. We can labor to earn our keep but we must keep a necessary balance in our spiritual life and also labor in the Christian realm for God!



Pros and Cons to Spiritual Labor
Scripture Con Pro
Luke 10:7 Non Hospital Relationships Hospitable Treatment
Luke 13:24 Non Salvation Salvation
Acts 20:24 Worthless Life Fulfilled Life
Romans 4:5 Unrighteous Righteous
Phili. 1:6 Incomplete Completion
2 Peter 1:10 Damnation Never Fall Away






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Key Point: It is our responsibility as a Christian to labor Physically and Spiritually!

We know now about laboring what about the laborer?
Lets see what scripture says about the laborer:


Proverbs 12:11
“11 a hard worker has plenty of food,
But a person who chases fantasies has no sense.”

This verse tells us that a “hard worker” has plenty of food. It takes character to be a hard worker, if you weren’t a hard worker then you would be idle chasing fantasies all day and this scripture says that those kinds of people have no sense. So, being a hard worker is a matter of character.

Proverbs 31:17

“She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.”

This is another scriptural reference to the character of a Christian, this verse happens to be about a Christian woman. This means that hard work is not reserved for men only, woman are to have Christian character and work hard also!



The reason we are to have the Christian character of hard work is because it reflects to others our Christian zeal and strength. Christians are not to be lazy, Jesus was not lazy, he always made sure that everyone was taken care of first and never murmured or complained one time about all the work cut out for him. Our Christian light should shine through our hard work so that it is an example for others. If we are an example to others then we are in line and have the potential to win others over to God!
Lets read James 2: 26. It reads:


“26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.”



Our faith and our works go hand in hand physically and spiritually!












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Now we have talked about working spiritually and physically for God. We have also talked about what it means to work and the pros and cons to laboring in both areas. Before we close this study lets see what the bible says that our works should be exactly so there is no mistake in our salvation:



Lets look at a few scriptural examples:

John 5:36


“36 But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.”

We must prove to others that Christ has died for our sins by transforming your life and using your life and works as an example of Christian character. We must use who we used to be to relate to others and bring them closer to God, this is turning a negative into a positive. Just as Christ labored here on earth for his father, we to shall labor here for God!


John 10:32


“32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”


We are not here to labor in vain, we have a purpose, we have to labor here on earth for God only…We are not to serve false Gods, worship idols, or revel in earthly ways. We are on a mission, for God!















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1 Timothy 6:18

“18 tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.”


As Christians we are to use our finances to do good, or be good stewards with our finances. We should do good works, such as, community service, and be generous not just to the poor but all who need us that we can assist. On top of our physical labor for our family and God we are to serve him spiritually by spreading the word of God.


Hebrews 10:24


“24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”


Last but certainly not least we are not only to serve physically and spiritually but we have an obligation to our Christian family to motivate on another to do good works in both areas of labor…



The bible tells us we are to work, in what ways to work, and what to work for; you cannot get it much plainer. Our God does not want us to fail so he gives us a bible to use for such resources. That is why they call it a book of wealth because of all the rich information inside of the Holy Book. God wants us to be successful here not just for him but for ourselves and he tells us the only way to succeed is to labor. Our labor must be a healthy balance of physical and spiritual work. If we follow his instructions there is no way to fail here or after….















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Questions


What two ways are we to work for God?

A)

B)


What way as a Christian can you physically serve God?
_____________________________________________________________


What way can you as a Christian serve God spiritually?
_____________________________________________________________


What is the consequence to not laboring spiritually and physically here on earth?
___________________________________________________________


What is the benefit to laboring in a balanced manner here on earth?
____________________________________________________________

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