Man's Work

Welcome back to our Wednesday evening study on “What we Believe, and WHY we Believe it!” It has been my experience that far too many Christians know, WHAT they believe, but not WHY they believe it. May I tell you that the WHY is just, if not more, important than the WHAT.

See the WHAT is centered in facts, but facts without understanding only fill up our heads. WHY, however, is settled in your heart and is encouraging when time gets, and helps our understanding of the Bible.

We have been discussing man and what the Bible teaches about man. We discussed the creation of man, as well as the material and immaterial parts of man. Tonight we are going to look at man’s work. Let’s begin by discussing man’s work...

Before the Fall

God told Adam to keep the Garden and to subdue the earth.

Genesis 1:28 KJV 1900

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Work was part of God’s original plan and purpose for man. Work was enjoyable. It still can be, and often is, but something happened! Let’s look at man’s work...

After the Fall

Sin caused man’s work to become laborious and wearisome.

The earth was cursed because of sin making work difficult Gen. 3:17-19

Genesis 3:17–19 KJV 1900

17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Yet life goes on. Man’s work changed from something enjoyable before the fall to laborious after the fall, but man’s work continues on...

In Spite of the Fall

Even in the aftermath of sin, man’s work is still a blessing from the Lord. Eccl. 2:24

Ecclesiastes 2:24 KJV 1900

24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

Work give us opportunity to express our abilities in accomplishing certain goals. Few things are more satisfying than a hard day’s work. Let’s look at how this is accomplished...

In Regards to Secular Employment

To be clear, by “secular employment” we mean a job you work that is not in ministry. For the Christian, nothing we do should be secular (apart from/without God). As Christians we are expected to be:

Obedient to those we work for.

Colossians 3:22 “22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:”

1 Peter 2:18 “18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.”

All of this within reason of course. No where are we commanded to obey anyone who asks us to violate our conscience or biblical standards.

Our work should be viewed as to the Lord

Ephesians 6:5–7 “5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:”

This speaks to the quality of our work as well as our work ethic.

A saved person should view his work as a service to the LORD because his whole life is dedicated to God

Romans 12:2 “2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Your job is an opportunity to let your light shine before men.

But what about our work...

In Regards to Christian Service

Our service to God should involve the following:

Faithfulness and obedience

1 Corinthians 4:2 “2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 “31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

A Good work ethic - I cannot say this enough! This applies to both secular and sacred

1 Thessalonians 4:11 “11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;”

2 Thessalonians 3:10–12 “10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”

Here is a BIG one, what about man’s work...

In Regards to Salvation

There are two truths we must address regarding man’s work in salvation:

There is absolutely no work that can be done to earn salvation. Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

There is no work which a SAVED person can do which will add to or take away from what has been given us in Jesus

Romans 4:3–8 “3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 “21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

We are thankful for the finished work of Christ!

Now What?

There is still work to be done. There are still people in need of the gospel. There are still opportunities to serve. There are still things that need to be don. What are you willing to do about it?