THE NECESSITIES OF WORK
“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work – Exodus 20:9.”
In a world where work is seen as a curse or a taboo. Perhaps it is because of what many people have taken out of context concerning what God said that –
“…Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life – Gen, 3:17.”Most people believe we shouldn’t be working if not because of the sin of man and the curse that came as the effect. That is not true. Work was ordained even before the fall and the sin of man. We can say with God, work opened the beginning chapter of the Bible – “…God created…” The word “created” connotes work. Moreso, when God created man, the charge He gave him was –
“…for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground – Gen. 2:5.”So, one of the purposes God created man was to till the ground. Tilling in this case describes work.
In a world and century
where people see work as a curse and necessary evil, it is important to make
known the mind of God concerning it. We are in a dispensation where people of
all races and languages are involved in one thing or the other but if most
people should have their way, work must be scrapped. We now see work as a
burden. We have holidays upon holidays. Some nations of the world work six days
a week, others work five, four or even three days in a week between shifts.
Sadly, there are people who work round the clock twenty-four seven. Though the
essence of this teaching today is to emphasise the importance of work but we
must establish the truth also – there is need for rest. All work and no rest is
dangerous. Likewise, all rest and no work is ungodly. Now, back to the
necessities of work, why is work necessary? We have three points to discuss.
First, it is a command
of and from God as we have seen it to be in the text. God commanded man to
work. He even gave us time, days and periods of the work. Since God is not
against work, it behooves us to also give ourselves wholly and devotedly to it.
The second point is that God works too. He didn’t just give command, He works. It is wrong to still view God as One who is still resting till now –
“And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made – Gen. 2:2.”The seventh day is past for God. He has resumed work –
“But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work – Jn. 5:17.”As a Christian, it is an error to have a working Father and God but resting lazy children. It does not agree to have a Father who is set at work and His children refuse to be co-labourers together with Him. So, another reason it is necessary for us to work is that it is an honour to be on the field at work together with our heavenly Father.
The third point to
wrap this up is found in the blessing attached to work. It is written in His
word – “…that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand
which thou doest – Deut. 14:29.” Work serves as a means and medium through
which God extends His blessing to men on earth. Yes, work is not the only and
ultimate means or form by which God blesses His people. However, because He has
ordained it from the beginning, it is necessary for Him to use it as one of the
ways He chooses to bless people. Examine and check through the scriptures, you
shall confirm and testify that all men in the scripture whom God blessed had
one thing they were doing as work. All works are not blessed but only the work
of righteousness.
Finally, brethren, let
us rise and set to work because God commanded us and for us to receive blessing
from Him. God is working. Jesus is working. Holy Spirit is working? Are you
working? What is hindering you?
WORKS GREETINGS
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