There is a notion that spiritual people should not involve themselves in hard work, but stay inside, keep their hands clean, think deep thoughts, and somehow make themselves more spiritual by doing less.
That is ridiculous!
Jesus had dirt under his fingernails.
And a farmer’s tan.
And scars on his hands from years of hard work.
His father was not a priest, but a carpenter. A craftsman.
Never did Jesus avoid hard work.
(Nor were the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer easy and pleasant—it’s not sitting on the deck with coffee and a prayer journal—as valuable as that is. When Jesus prayed, He went to WORK.)
Even Paul, raised to a life of scholarship, a brilliant Pharisee, worked as a tentmaker. And after he was saved and became the apostle to the Gentiles, the writer of 13 epistles, possibly HEBREWS (#14) and another four letters now lost, a man who suffered as much persecution as anyone ever has—received 39 lashings from the Jews five separate times, was scourged by pagans (who don’t stop at 39), was beaten with rods 3X, shipwrecked 4X, spent 36 hours adrift in the deep, was stoned and left for dead, imprisoned numerous times—Paul continued to work.[1]
Paul never RETIRED to enjoy the benefits of being “Christian royalty.”
“You must imitate us. We were not irresponsible among you; we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and struggled, working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you” 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8.
“We encourage you, brothers—lead a quiet life, attend to your own business, and work with your hands, just as we have commanded you” 1 Thessalonians 4:11.
This is good news, don’t you see? God loves work. You don’t have to be a missionary or an apostle. God put us here to be a blessing by working and serving others. Your work is a holy and spiritual act of service. GOD CALLS YOU TO WORK. Never think that what you do does not matter. It matters!
And people who refuse to work? God says, “If anyone will not work, neither let him eat” 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
Thank God for the blessing of a hard day’s work!
ΑΩ
[1] http://www.biblecharts.org/apostlepaulcharts/15%20-%20The%20Sufferings%20of%20Paul.pdf
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