2. WORK – ½ your life Age doesn’t matter Income doesn’t matter
Young Mid-Life Old
Income doesn’t matter
Rich Poor In Between
Type of work doesn’t matter
Physical Spiritual Relational

3. WORK and God
God Created Us to Work God Commanded Us to Work God Told Us WHY we Work God Told Us HOW to Work

4. Created to WORK Work in the Beginning (Gen. 1:15-17)
Work Keep Benefit from the work
Work Changes after Curse (Gen. 3:17-19)
Painful Hard Continuous
Work Still a Blessing (Eccl. 3:9-13; 5:18-20)
Joyful Good Pleasurable
GOD’s GIFT

5. When We Don’t Work
We Reject God’s Intent for Us We Reject God’s Gift to Us We Reject God in Us

6. Willing to work -> Doing work No absolute right not to starve
Commanded to WORK
1 Thess. 4:10b-12; 2 Thess. 3:6-12
“Work with hands” - personal
“Avoid the idle” “Don’t work, don’t eat”
“Work quietly” “Eat own bread”
Willing to work -> Doing work
No absolute right not to starve

7. WORK to Maintain Self
Avoid Poverty (Prov. 14:23) Earn living (2 Thess. 3:12) Have a right to eat (2 Thess. 3:10) Dependent on no one(1 Thess. 4:12)

8. WORK to Maintain Others
Family (1 Timothy 5:3-8)
Take care of parents/grandparents
Those that don’t are worse than un-believers
Those in need (Eph. 4:28)
Share!
Don’t hold back (Prov. 27:25-26)
Righteous’ work allows generosity

9. Paul’s Point (2 Thess. 3:7-9) Before Outsiders (1 Thess. 4:12)
WORK to be an Example
Paul’s Point (2 Thess. 3:7-9)
Before Outsiders (1 Thess. 4:12)
We Are How Our Children Learn
To value work
The importance of caring for others
They learn by what we do (not what we say)!

10. For our Necessities To Help Others To Set an Example NOT for Luxury
We WORK For Godly Goals
For our Necessities To Help Others To Set an Example NOT for Luxury

11. Diligently (Proverbs 18:9) Personally (1 Thess. 4:11; Eph. 4:28)
How We WORK (1)
Diligently (Proverbs 18:9)
“Not slack” – Destructive
Personally (1 Thess. 4:11; Eph. 4:28)
“With own hands”
Not intended for leisurely life
Not intended to depend on the work of others

12. How We WORK (2) “Quietly” (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:12)
Don’t work for attention
Recognizing Master (Eph. 6:5-8; Col. 3:22-24)
“Doing will of God from heart”
“Fear and trembling”
“Not to please people” “Sincere heart”
“With a good will” “Heartily”
Looking toward a certain reward - “inheritance”
Doing our best - “Serving the Lord Jesus Christ”

13. The Focus of our WORK
Serious Effort Consistent Personal Involvement Not for Personal Benefit To Please Our True Master - God

14. Reflection (1)
Is work the blessing God created for you? Does your toil give you the joy God intended? God commands you to work – are you obeying? God says to earn your own bread – are you?

15. Reflection (2)
Do you work to maintain yourself, help others, and set an example? Are you personally working - with diligence, humility, quietness Do you recognize your true boss?