Honoring God by Working Well
Dave Faust
Someone sent me a list of the “best things to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk.” The suggestions include:
And the best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk: “Amen.”
The Lord doesn’t require us to be workaholics. There’s plenty of room in the Christian
life for quiet rest and playful recreation, but there’s no excuse for laziness. In his second letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul addressed the sin of idleness. Some members of the church evidently misapplied Paul’s words in First Thessalonians about the return of Christ. “If the Lord is returning soon,” they reasoned, “why work so hard—or why work at all?” They weren’t do-it-yourselfers; they were don’t-it-yourselfers. They tried to get by with as little work as possible.
Concerned about the negative influence of these “idle and disruptive” Christians (2 Thessalonians 3:6), Paul explained the benefits of a solid work ethic.
The Value of Hard Work
A diligent worker is a role model for others. Paul said, “You ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you . . . . On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you” (vv. 7, 8). Today as in the first century, critics of the church cynically assume that preachers mainly serve God for the money—another reason Christian leaders should avoid laziness and handle even small financial matters with the utmost integrity. Paul said, “Nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it” (v. 8). If you went to a restaurant with Paul, he routinely picked up the tab! “We did this,” Paul declared, “not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate” (v. 9).
Industriousness builds dignity and self-respect. “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat” (v. 10). Whenever possible, God holds us responsible to support ourselves and the loved ones who rely on us. Elsewhere Paul observed, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). Some legitimately cannot work because of age, disability, or lack of opportunity; but it weakens families and damages society when those who are able to work are unwilling to do so.
Conscientious workers are too busy to engage in negative behaviors. “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:11, 12). The old proverb is right: Idle minds and idle hands are the devil's workshop. Hardworking employees don’t have time to be busybodies, verbally crucifying their coworkers in the coffee shop or frittering away the hours with gossip on Facebook.
At church on Sunday and at work on Monday, we should “never tire of doing what is good” (v. 13). Football star Tim Tebow puts it well: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
QUESTIONS:
This column first appeared in The Lookout on Jul 27, 2014.
Holy Boldness
In Adams County, Ohio, 1,600 concerned citizens gathered in a high school gym the other day—but not to see a basketball game or some other school program. They were there to express their opposition to a lawsuit sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union that demands removal of stone monuments containing the Ten Commandments from school property. The folks in this rural region have heard all the arguments about separation of church and state. They aren't trying to impose their religious views on anyone. They simply believe that in a culture riddled by drug abuse, family problems, and moral confusion, young people could do a lot worse than ponder 10 time-honored principles that urge respect for God and others.
Honoring the Valiant
Recently I attended a 90th birthday party for Les Cheesman, a long-time member of our church. At 90 Les still has thick wavy hair and a quick wit. (When I asked him for some wise advice based on his years of experience, he quipped, “Don’t fry bacon naked!”) Les knows how to make people feel loved. He’s a master of the warm greeting. More precisely, he’s the master of the bear-hug. When you encounter Les at the church door, he doesn’t settle for a meek “hello.” He embraces you with both arms and presses his face against yours. Remember the time Jesus encountered the rich young ruler? The Bible says “Jesus looked at him and loved him” (Mark 10:21), conveying holy affection for the young man simply by a look. Les’s hugs are like that. When 90-year-old Les embraces you in his still-strong arms and his whiskers rub against your cheek, you sense God’s love. There’s more to the story, though. Les is a decorated military veteran. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, doing tours of duty in the South Pacific. His military resume is a profile in courage. He served at Guadalcanal and participated in liberation of The Philippines. In recognition of his sacrifice and bravery, he received two Purple Hearts.