"If Anyone Will Not Work"

In looking at the Occupy DC protesters a few years ago, we see people who obviously found labor so wearisome, they thought it must be punishment sent from God. This could not be further from the truth. Even before sin entered the world, God gave Adam and Eve meaningful work to do (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:15).

In Ephesians 4:17-32, is a list of actions that characterize those who belong to Christ. Included in this list is the command to work for a living (Ephesians 4:28). Paul emphasized that “if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

The motivation for work was never to accumulate wealth, but to have something to share with others (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-35). From the biblical perspective, therefore, work is useful and most fulfilling when it enables us to help others.

The apostle Paul stated, “Let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Ephesians 4:28).

Any work that is honest and honorable, has great meaning, when we realize that it is God-given, and that we please Him when we share the fruit of our labors with folks in need (Luke 3:11; cf. 2 Corinthians 8:12-14; James 2:15-16; 1 John 3:17-18).

With regard to our work, our prayer might be:

"Lord, teach me how to love and work,
That every deed I do,
May be to someone in its turn,
A service fine and true." —Anonymous

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets