THURSDAY 24 NOVEMBER - WHY DO YOU WORK?

2 Thessalonians 3:12 NLT

We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13. What are you working for? More stuff? To keep up with the Joneses? For recognition and approval?

The problem with working for more and more stuff is that we never have enough. John D. Rockefeller once had a net worth of around one percent. of the entire economy of the United States of America. But when he was asked how much enough money was, he replied, “just a little bit more”. The problem with keeping up with the Joneses is that we’re haunted with the idea they’re catching up or overtaking us. Recognition and approval are drugs which we can never escape from.

If we place our worth in our work, then often we end up overworking, stressed and spending much less time with our family and friends.

The answer is to allow God to control our work. He will help us to “earn our own living” but he will also provide times of relaxation and recreation to bring much needed balance to our lives. He will assist us to make the most of our talents and time, doing all we can to provide for ourselves and our dependents, but he will also help to keep our values in check.

Working for God and not for our worth will help us work when we should be working and rest when we should be resting.

THINK IT OVER

Think about the following:

Do you think our society puts too much value on work and not enough on rest? Why or why not?