Your Work Matters to God
Introduction:
Work is a dirty word for many people. Others try
to avoid it at all costs. But as we will see in this lesson,
your work matters to God.
Body:
I.
The Origin of Work
·
Genesis 1:26-28
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over
the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God
created man in His own image; in the image of God He created
him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them,
and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth
and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the
birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the
earth.’” NKJV Jehovah gave man the responsibility and
blessing of caring for His creation. Work is of great
importance to God; so it should be to us also.
·
Genesis 2:5-9, 15
“before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any
herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it
to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground;
but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of
the ground. And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and
man became a living being. The Lord God planted a garden
eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is
pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was
also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil. 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him
in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” NKJV God
invested work with both value and honor. Work is a person’s
contribution to God’s world.
·
Genesis 3:17-19
“Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of
your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded
you, saying, You shall not eat of it’: ‘Cursed is the ground
for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your
life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your
face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out
of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall
return.’ ” NKJV
Sin changed the nature of work. Because of
man’s sin, Jehovah imposed limitations and restrictions on the
earth. Work became more difficult and unpleasant.
II.
Why Work Is Valuable
·
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works and glorify your Father in heaven.” NKJV Work, when
done appropriately, glorifies God. Therefore, we should
concentrate on living a life that honors and glorifies Jehovah.
(I Peter 2:12) “having your conduct honorable among the
Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they
may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the
day of visitation.” NKJV (I Corinthians 10:31) “Therefore,
whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the
glory of God.” NKJV
·
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good
works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in
them.” NKJV We are created for good works. He appreciates
the good work that we do. (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19) “Here is
what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and
drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils
under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for
it is his heritage. As for every man to whom God has given
riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive
his heritage and rejoice in his labor – this is the gift of
God.” NKJV
·
Ephesians 6:5-8
“Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters
according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of
heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as
bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same
from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.” NKJV We
work for God regardless of the kind of labor; we are to do it
sincerely and from the heart. (Colossians 3:23-24) “And
whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” NKJV God
wants to be Lord of our work.
III.
How Is God Glorified through Our Work?
·
Through our work we serve people and meet their
needs. (Romans 12:13) “distributing to the needs of the
saints, given to hospitality,” (I Timothy 6:18) “Let them
do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing
to share,” NKJV
·
Through our work we meet our own needs as well as
those of our family. (II Thessalonians 3:7-10) “For you
yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not
disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of
charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we
might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have
authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should
follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you
this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (I
Timothy 5:8) “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and
especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith
and is worse that an unbeliever.” NKJV
·
Through our work we earn money to give to others.
(Ephesians 4:28) “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather
let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may
have something to give him who has need.” (Proverbs
21:25-26) “The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands
refuse to labor. He covets greedily all day long, But the
righteous gives and does not spare.” NKJV
·
Through our work we show that we love God and our
neighbor. (Matthew 22:36-40) “ ‘Teacher, which is the great
commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with
all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And
the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the
Prophets.’ ” NKJV
Conclusion:
This lesson has shown that our work really
matters to God. Whatever we do, we are to do it with all our
might because we are working for the Lord Jehovah. He considers
our entire life sacred, not just the spiritual.
Bobby Stafford April 2, 2017
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