Lawful Reasons For Our Working

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: II Thessalonians 3:10-12
Psalters: 348, 199, 308, 311
  1. Work with hands (or brain) is God’s ordained means to supply our basic earthly needs (I Thess. 4:1,2,11,12).
    1. Our text teaches the same adding that by working we are able to eat our own bread (12b).
    2. God deemed it important and necessary to say something so basic and simple.
      1. It is not wrong to have, as a conscious motive for work, the desire to eat, to meet our basic, earthly needs.
      2. The Lord Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread and so He commands us to engage in work as the means to obtain it.
  2. Work is also the means for meeting the needs of our extended family, i.e., those for whom I have obligations (I Tim. 5:4ff).
    1. I Timothy 5 speaks of the callings of widows and of the care of them.
    2. If we do not provide for our own parents in their old age, then we deny the faith (practical atheism).
  3. Work is the God-given way to provide for the needs of the family of God (especially benevolence).
    1. Paul called the new Christians at Ephesus to manifest God’s gracious work in them by working honestly (Eph. 4:28).
    2. Paul is an example of meeting also the needs of “them that were with me” (Acts 20:34).
    3. Galatians 6:10 calls us to show good to all as we have opportunity - especially to those of the household of faith.
  4. Work is presented as an aid to holiness for it neutralizes temptations by keeping us busy.
    1. Young widows are not to be automatically supported by the church (I Tim. 5:11-14).
    2. Work with quietness helps us be holy for it keeps us from making the noise of tale-bearing (II Thess. 3:11).
    3. Many temptations are neutralized by diligent (wearying) labor.
  5. Work presents a good witness to the world (I Thess. 4:12).
    1. We are light in the world (Matt 5:14-16; Phil. 2:14,15)
    2. Workers do this when they are obedient to their masters (Titus 2:9,10)
    3. Tattling young widows and employees who do not give honor to their employers give occasion to the adversary to mock the truth and church and Christ (I Tim. 5:14b; 6:1).
    4. When we keep these reasons for working before our consciousness, then we glorify God.