The Christian Work Ethic

by Bud Lambert Satan can destroy Christians by deceiving us into believing lies about work. The result ofbelievmg these lies is the sin of misusing work. Many families and individuals are in tremendous pain rightnow because of the consequences resulting from the misuse of work. God doesn't want his children to be deceived. Using the Bible as our guide, let's notice some unhealthy ways to approach work. One way is if we don't work. "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody" ( 1 Thessalonians 4:11) "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat' We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat" ( 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). A second way is if we allow our work to harm our bodies. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred and you are his temple" ( 1 Corinthians 3:16-17) A third way is if we allow our work to keep us from fulfilling our responsibilities to our family Women who allow their work outside the home to interfere with their God-given role to be "keepers at home" ( Titus 2:3-4). a loving wife ( Ephesians 5:22-24), and a loving mother ( Titus 2:4) are missing work. Likewise, men misuse work when we allow our work outside the home to interfere with our God-given role of being a loving husband ( Ephesians 5:25-33; Titus 3:7) and loving father ( Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4). A fourth way is to work for the love of money. "People who want to get rich fall into temptalion and it trap and into many foolish and harmfull desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction, for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with mally griefs" ( 1 Timothy 6:9, 10). Is your family hurting due to your misuse of work?

March 28, 1999



The Christian Work Ethic by Bud Lambert Satan can destroy Christians by deceiving us into believing lies about work. The result ofbelievmg these lies is the sin of misusing work. Many families and individuals are in tremendous pain rightnow because of the consequences resulting from the misuse of work. God doesn't want his children to be deceived. Using the Bible as our guide, let's notice some unhealthy ways to approach work. One way is if we don't work. "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody" ( 1 Thessalonians 4:11) "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat' We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat" ( 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). A second way is if we allow our work to harm our bodies. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred and you are his temple" ( 1 Corinthians 3:16-17) A third way is if we allow our work to keep us from fulfilling our responsibilities to our family Women who allow their work outside the home to interfere with their God-given role to be "keepers at home" ( Titus 2:3-4). a loving wife ( Ephesians 5:22-24), and a loving mother ( Titus 2:4) are missing work. Likewise, men misuse work when we allow our work outside the home to interfere with our God-given role of being a loving husband ( Ephesians 5:25-33; Titus 3:7) and loving father ( Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4). A fourth way is to work for the love of money. "People who want to get rich fall into temptalion and it trap and into many foolish and harmfull desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction, for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with mally griefs" ( 1 Timothy 6:9, 10). Is your family hurting due to your misuse of work? March 28, 1999	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM