Who said secular work isnt godly? in fact there are 5 godly reasons to work! (perhaps, more!) Think of reasons for working as different arrows pointing to different directions...up, down, left, right and 3D!
- UP - working is the very purpose of God's creation -
Genesis 2:15 ( 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.)
- LEFT - to support yourself and not being a burden to others - even Paul, Silas and Timothy, as apostles of Christs deserved the right but they chose not to be a burden and work hard day and night while preaching to others at the same time
1 Thessalonians 2- As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
- RIGHT - to help those in needs
Ephesians 4 - 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
1 Timothy 6 - 17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
- DOWN - to fight the evil one - sin of idleness - slander - gossips - busybodies
2 Thessalonians 3 ( 11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.)
Even Timothy suggesting that younger widows to re marry for the same reasons - 1 Timothy 5 (13Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. 14So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.)
- 3D - support gospel ministry - the honest truth is our brother and sister in Christ that doing full time ministry couldnt do everything themselves. They need us full time workers to help - encouragement, lots of prayers and also financial support...
interesting blog you got here, came from blogger.com main page