Note: This week we will have several messages on the subject of work. Although it may be regarded as not being very "spiritual", the Bible says a lot about work!

Message summary: In God's providential order, life as we know it, requires human labor. All throughout this day and every day you are blessed by another person's labor and your labor can be a blessing to others as well.

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"Six days you shall labor and do all your work" (Exodus 20:9).

Several weeks ago I went with my friend Ken to the PA AG (Pennsylvania Agriculture) progress show up in central PA near State College (home of the Penn State University main campus). I know Ken as a businessman and for many years we served as chaplains at Audrey's, the company he and his wife Audrey founded and owned for over 40 years. But Ken was raised on a farm and in the early years of his marriage he and Audrey farmed.

He's still got farming in his blood which is the case for about anyone who's ever farmed. Each year he likes to go to the AG progress show and see the latest in agricultural technology and equipment. He has gone to the show since he was young and told me that he remembers when the event was held at the Hershey Farms which is related to the Hershey School located in Hershey, PA, of course. This school is for disadvantaged children and is funded by a foundation from Hershey Foods, the internationally famous chocolate maker. The Milton Hershey School Trust had $17.4 billion of assets as of 2021. (Wikipedia article)

At one time the Hershey schools used the students on the farm for several hours a day teaching them a wholesome work ethic. However some type of "do-gooder" came along and made a stink about their rules, claiming that having the children work was a violation of child labor laws. The school caved and the children lost the benefit of learning the value and blessing of meaningful work.*¹

"Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening" Psalm 104:23). This Psalm recounts God's works in the natural world, showing His providential care over all His creation. I find it interesting that the picture of man in this account is at work. Some see work as a curse or a necessary evil, but God has ordained work into His created order. God said, "Six days shalt thou work".*²

Solomon wrote, "The sleep of a laboring man is sweet" (yesterday's message) and Paul wrote (in a context concerning secular work), "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men." In the book of Revelation we read of a future time when the faithful "will rest from their labor".

In God's providential order, life as we know it, requires human labor. All throughout this day and every day you are blessed by another person's labor and your labor can be a blessing to others as well. How are you blessing others in your labor?

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber