What is work?
Each of us have grown up in a culture that has it's own stories which speak of the value or the burden of work.
Instructions: Below are five statements about work. Circle one or more that might be said by you or someone from your culture:
" I love to work!"
" I don't like to work but it pays the bills"
" Work first, play later"
" I wish I had enough money, then I wouldn't need to work any more!"
" Work is a necessary evil"
" Work is good for me"
" Work is a curse"
Questions to answer:
- What are your own opinions regarding work?
- In your opinion, what is God's attitude toward work?
- Read Genesis 2: 1-3
- What do these verses tell us about God and work?
- Does this passage confirm or conflict with your previous answers?
- Why did God place man in the Garden of Eden? (Gen. 2:15) NOTE: This is the intention of God for man even before the Fall.
- What does the wisdom literature tell us about diligence and laziness? (Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4+5; 12:24; 13:4; 14:23; 20:4)
- What attitude do Paul and his associates have toward work? (1 Cor. 4:12;
9:6 and 2 Thes. 3:10?
Other thoughts to study and meditate on:
- In the Bible God's mighty acts are called "works".
- Creation (see Psalms 8:3+6; 19:1; 102:25),
- His redemptive acts in history like the Exodus (see Judges 2:7+10),
- His wrath (see Isaiah 28:21).
- Jesus' "work" was to accomplish redemption for man on the Cross
(see John 4:34; 5:36; 9:4; 10:38; 15:24; 17:4).
Final Questions:
What do you think that Charles Spurgeon meant by the following statement: "We are all immortal till our work is done."
And what does Martin Luther mean by saying: "Our whole life should be nothing but praise to God. Even if the Lord would return tomorrow, I would still plant a sapling today."