November 29, 2010
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why work?
Some bad reasons to work:
- To make money in order to be rich and live in luxury
- To become famous
- To feel significant by having accomplished something in the world
- To be socially accepted
Some good reasons to work:
- To make money to give away to other people in need ("He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need." Eph 4:28)
- To "subdue the earth", exercising our God-given talents and abilities with creativity, doing what we were designed to do / tasked to do, bringing the earth into more and more order and beauty ("God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."" Gen 1:27-28)
- To set a good example of a disciple of Christ to nonbelieving peers, in financial stability and diligence ("But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need." 1 Thess 4:10b-12)
- To set a good example of a disciple of Christ to our supervisors ("Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free." Eph 6:5-8)
Thoughts?
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