PRODUCTIVITY OR DISTRACTION? “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.” Genesis 2:15

GOD COMMANDS US TO WORK FOR PROVISIONS. LESSONS SOLOMON LEARNED: “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.” (Ecc. 2:24)

GOD COMMANDS US TO WORK FOR PROVISIONS. LESSONS SOLOMON LEARNED: “The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much;… Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.” (Ecc. 5:12, 18)

GOD COMMANDS US TO WORK FOR PROVISIONS. THE LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS: “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)

GOD COMMANDS US TO WORK FOR PROVISIONS. THE LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS: “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. . . . Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.” (2 Thess. 3:10, 12).

GOD COMMANDS US TO WORK FOR PROVISIONS. THE LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS: “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. 4:11-12).

LIFE’S ACTIVITIES CAN PUSH GOD OUT OF THE HEART OF A BELIEVER. “And the one on whom the seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Matt. 13:22) merimna – that which causes a care, especially an anxious care

LIFE’S ACTIVITIES CAN PUSH GOD OUT OF THE HEART OF A BELIEVER. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (Jam. 4:3) What are our motives for what we do? For whom are we working: for God or for ourselves?

IS IT WRONG TO DO BUSINESS? OR TO EXPAND A BUSINESS? In the parables Jesus used acceptable ventures and common activities to teach spiritual lessons. Building bigger barns is not wrong, but greed and covetousness are (Luke 12:13-21) When our jobs become all about personal gains, we corrupt the good of productive labor and become God-poor.

IS IT WRONG TO OCCUPY YOURSELF SERVING OTHERS? All Christians are called to a God-prescribed workmanship of service unto others. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,…” (Eph. 2:10) “… and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.” (Tit. 2:14) “… only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Gal. 5:13)

IS IT WRONG TO OCCUPY YOURSELF SERVING OTHERS? Hosting and serving others are godly ways to reflect a Christ-like attitude, but stressing over such to the neglect of opportunities for spiritual growth is to choose badly unnecessary things (Luke 10:38-42). Martha actually excluded the Lord by failing to grasp a wonderful opportunity which would never repeat itself.