Message summary: As you work may the Lord reveal to you the dignity of your work as you apply your work skills with a spirit of diligence.

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“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does” (Ephesians 6:7,8). “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23,24).

Today we share several photos from up the road at our neighbor Levi's farm as they were planting cabbage several days ago. What a great example of diligent work the family demonstrates. This is typical in the Amish culture.

God has ordained a cooperative relationship with mankind. He creates and sustains but we have a role in that which is called work or labor. We normally associate the 4th commandment with remembering the Sabbath Day but it includes this command, "Six days you shall labor and do all your work" (Exodus 20:9).

That aspect (as well as the other) of the Fourth Commandment is increasingly violated in our age. Many government policies that are presented as compassionate have removed the incentive to work and decreased the need for personal responsibility. Although it's not a Scripture text there's a lot of truth to the phrase, "Idleness is the devil's workshop". I think of that when I read the stories of "street takeovers" in our major cities.*

Today we use an illustration from my older brother Pat who turned 79 today. He is now retired after serving various churches as a pastor for some 40 years. Following high school while serving in the military in Europe he became a Christian. Upon his discharge he immediately enrolled in Bible College to prepare for ministry.

The GI bill paid for his education but he still wanted to work so he chose to work on a college work crew. One of his first sermons he titled "Sermon on the rock pile", I suppose it was a take-off of Christ’s slightly more famous, "Sermon on the Mount".

He was working on a rock pile and noticed several of the other workers slacking so he began to preach his message, exhorting them to be diligent in their work and thus the "sermon on the rock pile"! That's a message that needs repeating today!

The Scriptural teaching in our daily texts is a call to diligence in work. Many have a slovenly attitude toward their work, doing as little as they can. Today’s texts are teaching from the Apostle Paul to Christian slaves but this principle can easily be applied to all secular work and to the work of ministry. Consider the phrases, "Serve wholeheartedly" and “Work at it with all your heart".

In our work responsibilities indeed we should serve wholeheartedly. Christians are to be an example of diligence! As part of their testimony they should be among the most exemplary workers any company has. What kind of employee are you? I encourage you to consider the end use of the product you are making or service you are providing and the blessing it can be to many people.

We should apply these principles in our work ethic toward our employers. In whatever we do, our work should be "as to the Lord". I like the pulpit study commentary notes on this verse: “Every mean and hard task is dignified and sweetened by the thought of being done for Christ, and the commonest work must be done with the zeal and thoroughness that His service demands.”

As you work may the Lord reveal to you the dignity of your work as you apply your work skills with a spirit of diligence.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber