No discussion of work is complete without a look at what most workers are looking forward to ……. Retirement! The Bible seems to be clear that you can change what we do but there is no retirement in the kingdom of God. As our “need” to work for our daily living comes to a conclusion, due to wise investments, it frees us up to do more work for the Kingdom of God with the same passion and zeal that we did our work to provide a living for our families. As we transition in our lives, we have more time to do things that last for eternity for the Lord. Often we say, I was not called to be a pastor, or teacher in my church. But there are many things that you can do with your new time. You can work around your church as a volunteer (cleaning, painting, mowing, visiting, etc.); you can go on missions trips to assist missionaries with projects or programs as you come alongside of them and encourage them, freeing them up to do the work of building the church in another country. In doing this education, and language is not a barrier because … READ MORE

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 reminds us that our work matters. Here we see 6 motivations for our work. Every job, every occupation, every kind of work falls within the believer’s duty. It is amoral calling. It is a spiritual responsibility that we have to honor the Lord and to put His image on display. Let me share those motives with you: 1. Dis-fellowship (v6) The command here is emphatic “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The idea is to cease fellowship with those who REFUSE to work. That is a sin, and it is unacceptable behavior. 2. Example (v7) We are example to our children and those around us. Work is an example of the value of life, and the importance of being productive in our society. 3. Survival (v10) If you don’t work you don’t eat, if you don’t eat you will die. We work in order to gain the resources we need to survive in this world. 4. Harmony (v11) When we do not have things to do we just become a problem. Remember: idle hands are the devils workshop. 5. Shame (v14). Work gives purpose to life, and people, without any purpose we feel worthless and … READ MORE

Work was always God’s design for us to be able to draw out all that is this creation for the demonstration of our nobility having been created in the image of God, and for the glory of God. We forget that work can and must be redeemed. You know how that works? You redeem your yard every week. If you were go away for six months and come back, you would find out what the curse would do…. Or open all the windows and doors in your house and leave it for a year and come back and se what is inside, and what lives there. It is a battle and we all understand that battle. We extract goodness out of God creation. That was Adam’s job and now we have to fight against the curse to extract that goodness. We are called to that work because it is noble and because it is God-glorifying. That was Paul’s thinking in his letter to the Thessalonians. There is an overriding concern in the minds of the believers that the return of the Lord has already happened. So those who “thought themselves to be spiritual” quit working in order to wait for … READ MORE