I AM CREATED TO WORK
We are told in the Scriptures that we cannot work to earn our salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. We cannot do enough works to earn God’s favor or to repay our sins. Salvation comes by grace through faith alone! We must trust in what Jesus did for us on the cross. He offers salvation for all who believe and make Him their Lord.
Salvation gives us a new nature. It is through our new nature that we have works to do. Works do not save us but they are the evidence that we are saved! Our faith is made complete by what we do after salvation. The Bible speaks about Abraham in James 2:22-24 (NIV) 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 The Bible makes it clear that a person is made complete by what he does.
If we performed works to earn our salvation, we would fall terribly short of the standard, which is holiness. It is when we understand that we are saved, forgiven, and loved by God that we produce “good works” because of Christ in us. Through faith we allow Christ to work through us. God enlightens and empowers us to: deny ourselves, pick up our cross, crucify the flesh, and live by the Spirit.
The verse that follows the scripture that says we are saved by grace through faith alone is Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The Bible also warns us that we will be judged based on our works. Revelation 22:12 (NIV) 12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
We have no excuse not to fulfill the works that God has prepared in advance for us to do. He has given us all that we need to accomplish the tasks that He has for us to do. You will not be able to say on the Day of Judgment, “I didn’t know what you wanted me to do.” You won’t be able to say, “I wasn’t given the right “tools” to complete the task." God’s Word and the Holy Spirit are the right tools.
Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV) 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
So how do I know what works I am to accomplish? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. If we fail to know the Scriptures and apply them to our lives, we will fail to fulfill the good works that God has prepared in advance for us to do.
WORKING IS GOD’S INTENTION FOR MAN
From the very beginning of man, it was God’s intention that we should work. Genesis 2:15 (NIV)
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
We are the stewards of God’s creation. We have responsibilities to fulfill for God. The day is coming when we will be judged on how we have worked for God.
When Adam and Eve sinned, the responsibility to work did not change. The work became harder, however, because of their sin. Genesis 3:23 (NIV) 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After the fall of man, the ground became cursed. Our toil in working the ground would now produce sweat. Genesis 3:17-19 (NIV) 17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
Man working has been God’s intention since the very beginning. He plans for us to work in heaven, as well. Those who accept Jesus as their Lord, completing the works that God has prepared for them to do, will enter into the new heaven and the new earth. The Scriptures teach that we will continue to serve God and have responsibilities in heaven. Revelation 22:3 (NIV) 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. Matthew 25:21 (NIV) 21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
The Garden of Eden, where God dwelt with man, will be renewed in the new heaven and the new earth. However, God’s intentions for us to serve Him and to work will continue. We will all have specific responsibilities and things to take care of.
Throughout the New Testament, we are told to work and that our godly works bring glory to God. Matthew 5:16 (NIV) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Colossians 1:10 (NIV) 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
1 Peter 2:12 (NIV) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Everything we do should be looked at as a spiritual responsibility. We can better understand our responsibilities for work by breaking it down into two categories: earthly and heavenly. Earthly responsibilities are the works we need to do here while we live on this earth. Heavenly responsibilities refer to the building of God’s kingdom here on earth as well.
Earthly work
I want to stress again that even though we are calling these responsibilities earthly, they still have heavenly consequences and rewards. Even in our earthly responsibilities, we must be doing them to bring glory to God. Paul says it this way in Colossians 3:17 (NIV) 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
From our Life Truth: We are Created to be Holy, we learned that we are to be holy in all that we do. Peter goes on to say in 1 Peter 1:17 (NIV) 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. We are to be very concerned with the fact that God will be judging our work impartially and according to the standard of holiness. Even in our earthly responsibilities, God will be judging us.
1. We are to provide for our daily necessities
God told Adam that by the sweat of his own brow, he is to be providing for his own needs. Genesis 3:19 (NIV) 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
This does not mean that we are to all be farmers or have our own gardens. It does mean that we are to work and provide for our own needs. We are to work for our own food and do this until we return to the ground. God’s design in society is that we each do our part in earning the bread that we eat. When you work at job to earn money, and then you go to a store to buy bread to eat, you are fulfilling one of God’s responsibilities.
Paul told Titus to teach the churches to do this in Titus 3:14 (NIV) 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. We must devote ourselves to providing for our daily necessities. We are not to live unproductive lives.
The fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments is: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. But the first part of the fourth commandment is that we are to work. Exodus 20:9-10 (NIV) 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
Remember that sin brought the consequences of hard work. Because of sin, we cannot walk in the Garden of Eden and pick the food we want to eat. We must work by the sweat of our brow to earn the bread we eat. We must provide for our own daily necessities as part of the earthly work that God has called us to do.
It is a grievous sin to God when His people do not work to earn the bread that they eat. God’s people are not to be dependent upon anyone. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV) 11 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, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
“To work with your own hands” is not a literal reference to the fact that we need to be using our hands to earn our daily necessities. It means that we are to use whatever gift God has given us to earn a living. Some people may be gifted farmers and work the ground to grow their own food and food to sell to others. Some may use their hands to work in a factory on an assembly line. Some may sit at a desk and use their gift in math to be an accountant. Some may use their gift to preach and teach the Word of God. These are just a few examples of work that would be considered “using their own hands” to earn daily necessities.
When Jesus sent the disciples out to minister the gospel he told them, Luke 10:5-7 (NIV) 5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6 If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.
When we are faithfully working hard, even if it is not directly related to earning the bread we eat, we are fulfilling God’s purpose to be self-supportive.
To be dependent upon someone is for them to be providing for your daily necessities. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 not to be dependent upon anyone. To be dependent upon someone is to expect them to meet your daily necessities. The rule to work and provide for your daily necessities is specifically for those who are able to work. An infant or child would not be responsible for their daily necessities. A person who is physically unable to provide for their daily necessities is not expected by God to fulfill this rule. If a person is unable to work, it is a family government or church government issue. It is never a civil government issue. Welfare from the civil government is not God’s design in the institutions. As we repent and return to God’s Word as the only source that governs us, we must begin to start a reformation to get people off government assistance programs. We will talk about this more when we get to Civil Government Life Truths.
God expects a person who is able to provide for their own necessities to work. A person who is able to work and does not provide for their own necessities is sinning. The Bible calls this idleness. Jesus commands the church not to be idle in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 (NIV) 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
The Scriptures are very clear that we are to labor and toil to earn the bread we eat. When it says that we are to keep away from “every brother who is idle,” it is referring to people who call themselves Christians and are dependent upon others for their daily necessities. If a person is a Christian and is able to work, but they do not, we are told to keep away from them. The goal is not to shun people. It is to awaken them to the seriousness of the command to work. If we teach them to go out and earn the bread they eat, and they refuse, then we must live by the command, “If you do not work you do not eat.” The command is that we do not help “brothers” who are able to work and refuse to. This would include a church's assistance to help pay bills or to help buy groceries. Remember, this command applies only to those who are able to work but do not.
If they are on any assistance, whether it is from the government, churches, relatives, or any other source, we are commanded to keep away from them if they refuse to work.
If you are able to work and you do not, but you receive aid from the government or any other source, it is a sin. This is an example of an unproductive life. This is a person who is not earning the bread they eat. The government is not responsible to take care of your daily necessities. It is the responsibility of the individual, the family, and the church.
Someone who is able to work and is receiving aid instead, needs to begin praying and asking God to forgive them, just as they would any other sin in their life. They also need to seriously begin looking for a job, and taking the job the Lord sends their way, no matter how menial the job may seem.
Whenever we sin, we are good at justifying our sin. We like to make excuses for our sin. Someone receiving aid might say, “If I work I will not make as much as I am receiving now.” The issue is not how much you are receiving now; the issue is that you are to earn the bread that you eat. If you follow the principles of God’s Word by becoming an honest hard worker, you will advance in your pay scale. God is our provider. He will give us what we need, but we are responsible to obey him.
The civil government should not be providing for people’s daily necessities. This is out of the jurisdiction of what God established for them to do. Many people today are on welfare in America. This is not what God intended. If you are unable to work and provide for your daily needs, God has established a plan for you. If the civil government is not responsible for those who are unable to work, then who is?
2. We are to provide for our families
The family is the first institution that should be taking care of those in need. If there is no family to provide help, then the church is responsible. Notice this passage in 1 Timothy 5:3-8 (NIV) 3 Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. 5 The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. 6 But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. 7 Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. 8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
If we are unwilling to provide for our relatives who are unable to provide for themselves, the Bible says we have denied the faith. What is the fate of an unbeliever? Hell. If we do not provide for our family, our fate will be worse than an unbeliever.
Part of the reformation necessary in America is for families to begin providing for those who are “really in need,” taking the responsibility away from the government. Yes, we will have to sacrifice some of the things that we want to be able to provide for others, but this is the call of the gospel. 1 John 3:16-17 (NIV) 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
God expects parents to provide for their children, and in turn, children may need to provide for their parents. The family is also responsible for their relatives; cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, etc… If within your family, you have someone who is unable to work and provide for their daily necessities, the family is to come together and support them.
3. We are to provide for those in need
Notice this passage in 1 Timothy 5:16 (NIV) 16 If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.
From this passage we see two institutional responsibilities. The first refers to family government and how the woman is to provide for any widows in her family. The second is the responsibility of the church to provide for widows who do not have anyone to care for them. Notice there is no responsibility of the government to provide for those in need.
The church is made up of individuals and families. We are to provide for the needs of those who are unable to work. Families and churches are the appropriate welfare program.
Paul writes this to the church in Ephesus. Ephesians 4:28 (NIV) 28 He 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. To steal is to take something that does not belong to you. If a person is able to work, and they receive assistance from another, they are stealing. Christians are not only to provide for their own necessities, but are also to have something to share with those in need.
The local church, when it comes together, is a powerful source for meeting the needs of a community. Let's say one family is able to give 50 dollars a month to help someone in need. What if ten families came together and gave the same amount? They would now have 500 dollars a month to give! The church is the storehouse for God’s provisions. When we bring our tithes and offerings into the church, we need to be ministering to those in need in our communities. God’s intention for the church has always been to help the poor.
Leviticus 25:35 (NIV) 35 "'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 (NIV) 7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.
Many of us know of the terrible sins that Sodom and Gomorrah were committing just before God destroyed them. Ezekiel gives us insight as to why they were destroyed. Ezekiel 16:49-50 (NIV) 49 "'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. 50 They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.
God will bless those who give generously without a grudging heart. This teaching about offering to help those in need is repeated in the New Testament. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (NIV) 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
When Paul went to the Apostles to tell them of his call to take the gospel to the Gentiles, they commended him in his work and they told him to always remember the poor. Galatians 2:10 (NIV) 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Paul taught the church in Ephesus to work hard to provide for yourself and others. Acts 20:34-35 (NIV) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Jesus told us that the righteous who help people in need will be able to enter into heaven. The unrighteous who do not help people in need will go away to eternal punishment.
Matthew 25:34-46 (NIV) 34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' 44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45 "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' 46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
We should not be overly judgmental or try to justify any decision not to help the poor or those in need. It is our responsibility is to help those who have made mistakes and can't help themselves. We do not want to be enablers and keep people dependent on others, but we must help them and teach them how to live productive lives.
Jesus did not say to just help the innocent prisoners. He commands us to remember those in prison and to cloth those in need. If we think things like, “Well they deserved what they got,” and choose to not help them, then we are deserving of Hell. The gospel tells us that we are all deserving of Hell. It is only because of God’s mercy and grace that we are saved from what we really deserve. God shows unbelievable love and compassion that none of us deserve. We are to do the same for those who have messed up their lives and need help. Without God reaching out to us, we could not be saved! As we help others in need, we are displaying the gospel for all to see!
Within our earthly works we are to be great examples, hard workers, respectful, orderly, and diligent. We will look at these in more detail as we get into the responsibilities of family government.
Heavenly works
We not only have earthly works to accomplish, but we also have heavenly works that we are responsible to do. Paul told the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
In 1 Corinthians 9:1, Paul refers to the “work of the Lord” as in people getting saved and maturing because of his ministry.
Jesus said in, Matthew 9:36-38 (NIV) 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
The "workers are few" refers to those who will accept the call of the gospel to go and make disciples of all nations. God has commissioned us to work hard at teaching people to obey God’s Word. The harvest is all the people who are harassed and helpless. These are people who are not saved and are not obeying all that Christ has commanded. Our nation is full of harassed and helpless people who need to hear the gospel and then follow God's Word in their lives.
Our nation is in a mess. Our country is out of order in obeying God’s institutions of self, family, church, and civil government. Workers need to rise up and lay down their lives for the gospel. Not only are souls at stake, but the very freedoms we enjoy are at stake as well. Freedom is only found is Jesus and in obeying the responsibilities we have in His institutions. If we will repent and return to God and His Word, and teach others to do the same, we could see another Great Awakening. We need a reformation in our nation and all of God's workers to go out into the harvest field.
Our prayer is to see more workers who accept the call of God and begin teaching people to obey God’s Word. You can use this Life Truth tool, another Biblical tool, or the Bible itself. It doesn't matter, the urgency is still the same. We must begin to study the Word ourselves and then teach it to others.
Look at what Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV) 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
There are a lot of false teachings in our generation that need to be dealt with. We must learn to correctly handle the truth of God’s Word.
God’s will for all of us is to become like Christ. We are to study, memorize, meditate, and teach the Word of God. In looking over the Life Truths, we can see areas that we need to work on in self government:
1. Scripture alone is what governs me
2. I need a new nature
3. I must crucify my old nature
4. I am created to serve
5. I am created to praise
6. I am created to encourage
7. I am created to witness
8. I am created to forgive
9. I am created to be holy
10. I am created to work
We are not only responsible to obey God’s Word for ourselves but we are responsible for teaching God’s Word to our families and to others. If you are not teaching someone else the Word of God, you are not fulfilling your heavenly works.
Many in the church today have become idle in their heavenly works. We must be diligent in going and in teaching the nations to obey. In the book of Amos, the nation of Israel had become lazy and comfortable. They were idle in their obedience to God. The prophet Amos gave a stern warning to the nation about a judgment that would come for their disobedience. Amos 6:4-7 (NIV) 4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. 5 You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. 6 You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. 7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.
In America, we have many luxuries and comforts. We like our entertainment and leisure time. This prophecy could be said about us in many ways. Their nation was not grieving over the ruin of Joseph. They were unconcerned about everyone else but themselves. Could the same be said of us? Are we concerned that America is falling apart? Are we willing to do something about it?
Just the fact that you have made it this far in reading this book tells me that you are committed to learning more about obeying Jesus and making a difference for Him. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the gospel is only for you and your family. The gospel is to be taken to the nations. Not just the message of praying a prayer asking Jesus into your heart, but the message of teaching them “to obey all things” like the commission states in Matthew 28:18-20. Bring another family into your home and begin learning the Self Government truths together. Then move on to the Family Government, Church Government, and Civil Government.
Will we sacrifice our wants to study the Word, memorize some verses, and then gather people together to teach them the Word of God? Will we obey what Jesus commanded us to do?
If just a few families would commit to studying the Life Truths, and form Life Groups to teach the Truths to others, an awakening could occur in our communities.
We currently have 11 families leading Life Groups. In just a few years, our goal is to have many families leading Life Groups and making disciples. 11 + 11 = 22 + 22 = 44 + 44 = 88 + 88 = 176
We have 11 families leading and 20 families attending. If all 31 families committed to leading a Life Group next year it could look like this in just a few years. 31 + 31 = 62 + 62 = 124 + 124 = 248 I’m excited about the possibilities of a revival in our community and a revival in our nation. I am praying daily for more workers.
If we spent time praying, studying the Word together, and then teaching the Word to just one family a year, we could see tremendous results.
We all make time for what we love. Look at what Jesus said in John 14:15 (NIV) 15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. If we love God, we need to become workers in the harvest field. We need to pray that more workers come who are willing to follow God's command to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord.
