Rev Francisco Bilog1 Thessalonians 4:11 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
1 Thes. 4:11 “This should be your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own
business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.”
2 Thes. 3:10-12 “ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If
anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among
you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such
we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat
their own bread.
This is the Labor Day Weekend. Labor Day is a strange holiday. While we
call it “Labor Day,” we try to do as little labor as possible and most working
people have the day off. Nobody has wished me a “Happy Labor Day”. We
didn’t get any Labor Day cards. We don’t decorate the house, or give Labor
Day gifts.
The florists and greeting card manufacturers haven’t found a way to
capitalize on it.
It’s a bad weekend for a Church because everyone wants to travel. Labor Day is
different things to different people.
To the factory or office worker, it may be a day off. For policemen, who deal
with extra traffic and alcohol abuse, it’s a tough day. To farmers and ranchers,
it’s just another day to feed the cattle and work in the fields.
For preachers, it is an opportunity to talk about work. Work is a very
important part of God’s will for people.
Point #1 God has always honored and provided work.
Genesis 2:2 “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He
rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.”
God is a worker Himself and appreciates rest. He created us in His image
and gave us work to do.
Genesis 2:15 “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to
tend and keep it.”
Even from the beginning, God gave men work to do. When Jesus came to
earth, God honored work:
- His birth was first told to working shepherds Luke 2:8 Now there were in the same
country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. - Jesus learned a trade as a carpenter. Mark 6:3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son
of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with
us?”
Jesus was known as a carpenter! He worked with His hands in Joseph’s
carpenter shop. - Jesus chose working men as His disciples. Peter, Andrew, James & John
were fishermen. Matthew who was a tax collector. The Bible doesn’t tell us what
Philip, Batholomew, Thomas, Thaddeus, James, Thomas, and Judas did for a
living. I think it’s safe to say that they had jobs.
Jesus called them from their labors to become “fishers of men”.
Jesus told His disciples in Luke 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and
drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house
to house.
What was Jesus saying to them? He didn’t want them going out begging
from house to house. Jesus expected His disciples to earn their keep! So why
do so many people think of work as something bad? Because sin caused work
to be unpleasant.
Genesis 3:17-19 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of
your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ’You shall not eat
of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, Adam enjoyed
tending the Garden of Eden until sin changed things.
We think work is a necessary evil. If we don’t have to work, we choose not
to do it! Some people do as little as possible. The idea seems to be to get more
money for doing less work!
This leads to the idea of someone else doing the work for you. Some people
choose to be employers. They hire other people as employees to do the work.
In America, “labor” and “management” are adversaries. Labor wants the
most money for the least work. Management wants the most work for the least
money. This creates an adversarial relationship.
How many of you had chores to do when you were a kid? Have you noticed
that kids today won’t do chores? They expect Mom and Dad to give them
money! We are raising a generation that doesn’t want to work. They expect
things to be given to them for doing nothing!
Point #2. Many work like the Filipino work system is not the Christian way.
Ephesians 6:5-9 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according
to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eye service,
as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with
goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone
does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. 9 And you, masters,
do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in
heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
Do those verses describe most work places? Slavery has been abolished,
but many workers think they are treated like slaves! Many employers have
attitudes like a master. They treat their employees like slaves. God cares about
how we conduct our business and how we treat others.
We will all face judgment, both employers and employees. The Christian
cannot separate his business from his spiritual life. He has no right to act like
the heathen Monday through Friday.
The Christian does not live for self alone. Money is an opportunity to help
others.
Ephes. 4:28 says: Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor,
working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
If we all did like some of the Christians in Thessalonica… And refused to
earn any money… Then we could not give to the church. The church could not
pay its bills.
Point #3The Christian does the best we can for others
Colossians 3:22-24 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the
flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And
whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord
you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Christian employees should do more than expected because they work for
the Lord. Christian employers do the best, not the least they can for their
employees because they also have a master.
Here’s a question for you: Suppose a Christian has a Php.150 job to be
done and two men are willing to do it. One man will do the job for Php.150 and
one for Php.100. Which person should the Christian hire?
Well, the Christian employer is free to hire either man. However, he should
still pay Php.150. That’s what the job is worth, so that’s what the man is worth.
Jesus says in Matthew 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also
to them… If an employee can get by with shoddy work he has no right to do so. He works for
the Lord.
Christians know people are more important than property. The Bible tells us
repeatedly to love one another. People are so important; it is vital we treat them
right.
Listen again to Colossians 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord
and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
So there are rewards for doing a good job!
I have true story for you today! The U.S.S. Astoria was the first U.S. cruiser
ship to engage the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island in World War II. It
was a night action fought August 8th and 9th in 1942. Although the Astoria
scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, she was badly damaged and
sank shortly after noon on August 9th. About 2:00 that morning, a young
Midwesterner, Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples, was swept overboard by the
blast when the Astoria’s number one eight-inch gun turret exploded. Wounded
in both legs by shrapnel and in semi-shock, Staples was kept afloat by a narrow
life belt that he managed to activate with a simple trigger mechanism.
At around 6:00 that same morning, Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples was
rescued by a passing destroyer and returned to the Astoria, whose captain was
attempting to save the cruiser by beaching her. The effort failed, and Staples,
still wearing the same life belt, found himself back in the water.
Close to 12 Noon, Navy seaman Staples was picked up again, this time by
the U.S.S. President Jackson. He was one of 500 survivors of the battle who
were evacuated to Noumea. Safely on board the ship, for the first time, Staples
closely examined the life belt that had served him so well. It had been
manufactured by Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and it
bore a registration number.
Given home leave, Navy seaman Staples told his story and asked his
mother, who worked for Firestone, about the purpose of the number on the belt.
She replied that the company insisted on personal responsibility for the war
effort, and that the number was unique and assigned to only one inspector.
Staples remembered everything about the lifebelt, and quoted the number. It
was his mother’s personal code and affixed to every item she was responsible
for approving. Do you suppose Mrs. Staples was glad that she had performed
well on the job?
CLOSING:
It pays both in this life and the life to come to do our very best! How we carry
our Christian principles into our work is important. Our work performance
becomes a Christian ministry.
This gives work new meaning and dignity. We can’t claim to be Christians
if our Christianity is only a one-day a week affair.
God does care what you do Monday through Friday whether you are an
employee or employer.
There is great encouragement in knowing this. This is the Labor Day
Weekend! Let’s be thankful for the health to do our work! Let’s be thankful for
our jobs! Let’s do our work to the best of our abilities!