Rev. David Holwick ZC
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 1, 1991
Genesis 3:17-19
|
I. People hate to work.
A. Labor Day celebrated by leisure, rather than putting in double
shift.
B. Soviet Union - basic problem is collapse of economy.
1) Rich country, but resources are squandered.
2) Workers are not motivated by their system.
C. U.S. productivity also declining.
1) Many don't like their job because it is not fulfilling.
2) Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:17-20.
II. Biblical View: Work is good.
A. God is a worker (Creation). Genesis 2:2
1) Humans, made in God's image, are meant to work.
2) Adam worked while in the Garden of Eden. Gen 2:15
B. Work produces benefits. (John Stott)
1) Work is intended for fulfillment of the worker. Eccl 2:24; 3:22
a) But this fulfillment is only partial.
1> Don't look to your job to define who you are.
b) Spiritual work has eternal rewards.
2) Work is intended for provision of the family. 2 Thess 3:10-12
a) As far as possible, we should be self-supporting.
3) Work is intended for the benefit of the community. Eph 4:28
a) We have an obligation to others.
b) Hoarded wealth will return to haunt us. James 5:3-4
4) All work should be done as unto the Lord. Colossians 3:17,20-24
a) The Puritans declared the sanctity of all honorable work.
1> No separation between sacred and secular.
2> All of life was God's, and He is our Boss.
Dorothy Sayers wrote in "Creed or Chaos":
"Work is not, primarily, something one does to live,
but the thing one lives to do.
When a man or a woman is called to a particular job
of secular work, that is as true a vocation as though
he or she were called to specifically religious work."
#1561
b) Any job can honor God.
1> The work itself plays a part in God's plan.
2> Opportunities to witness by word and example.
5) All work should be done as unto the Lord. Colossians 3:17,20-24
a) The Puritans declared the sanctity of all honorable work.
1> All of life was God's, and He is our Boss.
b) Any job can honor God.
1> The work itself plays a part in God's plan.
2> Opportunities to witness by word and example.
Illustration: Becky Brodin - lazy nurse who hurt
her witness. #1566
III. Work is hard.
A. After his sin, Adam's work became sweaty toil. Gen 3:17-19
B. Because of its hardness, Christians need discipline & dedication.
C. Dangers in work:
1) False security. "I accomplished this all on my own."
2) False pride. "I am better than others."
IV. Our society needs to rediscover the Christian work ethic.
A. List of work rules issued by proprietor Zachary U. Geiger in 1872:
1. Employees will daily sweep the floors.
2. Wash the windows once a week.
3. Bring in a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal.
4. Make pens carefully.
5. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Closed on Sabbath.
Each employee is expected to spend the SABBATH by attending CHURCH
and contributing liberally to the cause of the LORD.
6. Men will be given an evening off each week for courting purposes, or
two evenings a week if they go regularly to CHURCH.
7. After an employee has spent 13 hours of labor in the office, he should
spend the time reading the BIBLE and other good books while
contemplating the glories and building up of the KINGDOM.
8. Every employee should lay aside from each pay a goodly sum of his
earnings for his benefit during his declining years, so that he will
not become a burden upon the charity of his betters.
9. Any employee who smokes Spanish cigars, uses liquor in any form, gets
shaved at a barber shop, or frequents pool and public halls, will
give me good reason to suspect his WORTH, INTENTIONS, and HONESTY.
10. The employee who has performed his labours faithfully and without fault
for a period of five years in my service and who has been THRIFTY and
attentive to his RELIGIOUS DUTIES, is looked upon by his fellowmen as
a SUBSTANTIAL and law abiding CITIZEN, will be given an increase of
five cents per day in his pay, providing a just return in profits
from the business permits it.
Be worthy of your hire.
#320
1) This list of rules makes workers look like slaves.
2) Yet this attitude of work is what made America what it is today.
B. Commentator on Soviet Union disintegration:
"The philosophy of communism is dead. But we have nothing
to replace it with."
C. Impact of Methodism in England.
Industrial revolution turned England upside down.
France, going through a similar change, turned to revolution
and then dictatorship (Napoleon).
Methodism revived England, thwarted Revolution.
Moral uplift gave good work habits.
Zeal for fairness and compassion led to reforms.
D. America needs to find its work ethic once again.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Create HTML Help, DOC, PDF and print manuals from 1 single source