“Christianity that God Desires”
2 Thessalonians 3:6 -13
Two Extremes: Sluggard & Workaholic
"The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!" As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth." (Proverb 26:13-15 (RSV)
"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond, and want like an armed man." (Proverb 6:10-11 (RSV)
Idle Working -vs- Productive Working
1. Working with No Set Goals or Purpose."
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness Romans 12:6-8 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work towards a Purpose
2. Working Perfunctorily (Doing only what we have to…)
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 (RSV)
"Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24 (RSV)
Productive Working: Working with Gusto
3. Working Without Consideration of God!
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work In A Spirit Of Worship
4. Working In Isolation.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work In Partnership
5. Working Towards My Own End.
"What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building." 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work In The Spirit Of Participation
6. Working In Our Own Authority.
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:5-7 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work In Submission To God Psalm 127:1
7. Work Without End
God’s Example "And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done." Genesis 2:2 (RSV)
"But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working."" John 5:17 (RSV)
God’s Command: Deuteronomy 14:22-26 (RSV)
Productive Working: Take Time To Enjoy Your Work With Rest
2 Thessalonians 3:6 -13
Two Extremes: Sluggard & Workaholic
"The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!" As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth." (Proverb 26:13-15 (RSV)
"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond, and want like an armed man." (Proverb 6:10-11 (RSV)
Idle Working -vs- Productive Working
1. Working with No Set Goals or Purpose."
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching; he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness Romans 12:6-8 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work towards a Purpose
2. Working Perfunctorily (Doing only what we have to…)
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31 (RSV)
"Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24 (RSV)
Productive Working: Working with Gusto
3. Working Without Consideration of God!
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work In A Spirit Of Worship
4. Working In Isolation.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up. Again, if two lie together, they are warm; but how can one be warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work In Partnership
5. Working Towards My Own End.
"What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building." 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work In The Spirit Of Participation
6. Working In Our Own Authority.
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." Philippians 2:5-7 (RSV)
Productive Working: Work In Submission To God Psalm 127:1
7. Work Without End
God’s Example "And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done." Genesis 2:2 (RSV)
"But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working."" John 5:17 (RSV)
God’s Command: Deuteronomy 14:22-26 (RSV)
Productive Working: Take Time To Enjoy Your Work With Rest
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