Many human beings have different concepts towards working. Majority get works to do so as to have foods to eat, clothes to wear, shelter to sleep in as well as having ability to afford basic needs for living. However, many work for other concepts such as to earn bigger salaries to boast their ego. Others have ulterior motives to get jobs or works for cheating on their employers of times and resources. In the present age, many see work as an easy way to make money for themselves through dubious ways, showing no genuine commitment to the work. Devoted Christians could see these points as reasons not to work so as to maintain their virtue and integrity. Against all these, fact remains that God created human beings to work with their hands. God Himself worked by creating human beings and everything in the world. If God worked and still working, human beings have no reason not to work.
There is nowhere in the Bible to see categorically that working for a living is sin. But there is biblical concept of works. Today’s devotional is dwelling on Biblical concepts of works for the people God created. God created many beings, but is only human beings He gave privilege of working (Gen. 2: 15). One of the punishments God pronounced on Adam after he ate the forbidden fruit was that Adam work hard, with sweat on his faces before eating the fruits of the ground (Gen. 3: 18). This means Adam will eat through hard labour and never again in sweet and easy situation. Christian are Biblically made to work to eat. Reason Apostle Paul said those not willing to work should not be allowed to eat (2 Thess. 3: 10). Christians should not go and pick job with personal motivation for making money (1 Cor. 10: 33; 1 Thess. 4: 6). This was Apostle Paul’s position. The Biblical concept to work should be to be earning money for personal feeding and getting other needs as well as desire to be a helper for the less privilege.
The Bible approves working hard so as to have foods at all times (Prov. 12: 11). Those Christians who are lazy doing nothing are described as those who lack senses (Prov. 12: 11b; 28: 19). It shows here that Biblical concept for works favours working hard without dishonest means while working. We can deduce that the gifts, talents and skills given us include needs to convert them to producing assorted kings of foods for human consumption. We as human beings were not initially created with God’s inbuilt motivation for defrauding people. The Bible is against such as seen in 1 Thess. 4: 6.
PRAYER:
HOLY SPIRIT, always lead me to works and business that will bring smiles to the faces of those in needs. Remove spirit of selfishness and self-gains from my hearts in Jesus name.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch