1. WORK
The curse of sin

2. Review – God’s Design God created us to work (Gen 1 + 2)
All our work is done for God (Eph 6)
Our work and our lives are part of God’s own work of creation and building His kingdom (Gen 2, Matt 9).
God calls us to be diligent and content in our work. (Proverbs and 2 Thessalonians)
One of the chief means of obeying God and worshipping Him is doing our work well.

3. BUT… Work has been significantly impacted by sin.
“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, you shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life…by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Gen 3:17-19

4. Work is Hard

5. Consequence #1: Work is Hard because we sin
Laziness.
“Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty.”
“Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.”
Dishonesty and Compromising our Integrity
Our Attitude: Complaining

6. Consequence #1: Work is Hard because we sin
Ignoring the connection between God and work
“What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.” Eccl. 2:22-23

7. Consequence #1: Work is Hard because we sin
Finding identity or hope in working for success
“If we are not careful, our work can become a black hole that eventually sucks the life out of us and hinders our relationship with God and others.” – Tom Nelson
If your relationship with God is suffering, you are weary and exhausted and stressed, are you willing to consider that this pain of work is a result of your sinful heart putting its hopes and trust in reaching the success you desire?

8. Consequence #2: Work is Hard because everything else is fallen too
We have to work to survive, and it comes by the sweat of our face. (Genesis 3:18)
Work doesn’t always bring success…something it yields thorns and thistles
Everyone else around us is sinful and fallen too.

9. Response #1: A life of repentance
Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness… My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins!” 1 Jn 1:8-2:2

10. Response #2: Find hope in the right place
“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves…groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.” Romans 8:22-24
“Fool! This very night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Lk 12:20