Colossians 3:23-24 (NASB) 23  Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Have you ever thought about what the word labor means? Labor = chore, drudgery, effort, energy, exertion, grind, job, plod, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, trouble, and wrestle.

Genesis 3:17 -‘the ground is cursed and through painful toil and the sweat of your brow you will work the ground.’

GOD ALWAYS INTENDED FOR US TO WORK

Genesis 2:15- The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to WORK IT and TAKE CARE OF IT.

The phrase to work the land in Hebrew has several meanings to serve to minister and to worship Colossians 3 :23-24 - 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

“If you were your boss, would you be happy with your work?”

Ephesians 2:10 – We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (to do what . . .) to do GOOD WORKS.

Philippians 2:14-15 (NASB) 14  Do all things without grumbling or disputing; (some version say “complaining”) 15  so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world…

If you feel this way you’re not alone, surveys indicate 7 out of 10 Americans are dissatisfied with their jobs and dread going to work.

They ask him ‘now that you’ve graduated college, what are your plans for life?’ He says, he’s done a lot of thinking and has decided to skip work and go straight into retirement.

GOD MADE US TO WORK Ecclesiastes 5:18 - It is good and proper for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all their labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.

Work WAS and still IS a wonderful blessing.

"The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays -- not because she may sing a hymn as she sweeps, but because God loves clean floors. The shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship."

I sleep well at night. Bill Hybels wrote, “It’s a great feeling! Human labor was designed by God, assigned to every one of us and offered as an opportunity to build confidence, develop character, and enjoy the satisfaction of accomplishment. Does that sound like a curse?”

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, 24 It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Philippians 2:14-15 (NASB) 14  Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15  so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

Colossians 3:23-24 (NASB) 23  Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Go there to work heartily as for the Lord rather than men… go there to prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.

RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THEM RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THEM. … RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF A CROOKED AND PERVERSE GENERATION…

LIVE TO MAKE GOD LOOK GOOD LIVE TO MAKE GOD LOOK GOOD!!! Matthew 5:16 (NASB)  "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.