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Labor of Man, The Introduction:
Originally Labor Day was to exhibit to the public the strength and sprit de
corps of the trade and labor organizations. June 28, 1894 Congress made the
first Monday in September an official labor Day holiday. In 1909, the Sunday
preceding was designated as labor Sunday, dedicated to the spiritual and
education aspects of the labor movement. To most o us Labor Day means not having
to go to work or school tomorrow. Would you go to work if you did not have to?
What would life be like without work? How many wish to not have to work?
Remember the commercial “got milk?” Where a person is eating cookies but
they have no milk, it is their idea of hell. I)
The Beginning of Labor A)
Genesis 2.15 what would they have done otherwise? 1.
God’s plan was for man to work in the garden, it was not a retirement center. 2.
Work provides a number of things important to man:
a. A sense of purpose, please in a job well done
b. Rest afterward is more enjoyable,
Ecc. 5.12
c. A way of providing for one’s family, loved ones.
d. Ability to help others when in need. B)
Biblical way to provide, earn a living 1.
Buying and selling James 4.13ff 2.
Investing, Matthew 25.27 3.
Manual labor and skill, Luke 10.7 C)
John 6.27 teaches us to have balance in our lives 1.
Some people are workaholics, others lazy and refuse to work 2.
Work has its place but don’t lose your soul to a paycheck
a. I have never known a person at the end of their life wishing they
had spent more time at work.
b. I remember one time we were working on Sunday after services.
We were in a hurry and tore up a piece of equipment. Dad
remarked that he has never gotten ahead by working on Sunday. D)
Bible condemns 1.
Robbery and stealing, Ephesians 4.28 2.
Being a burden on others, 2 Thess.
3.10-11 3.
Laziness, Proverbs 24.30-34 II)
The Curse A)
The cures was not having to work for they already were working; but the severity
of it. B)
No more gardening without weeds. 1.
We realize a lot of the labor of labor is when things do not go the way we want.
2.
Eli and I would start a project around the house and go to Lowe’s.
Understanding that we would probably be back for more things. III)
Our Instruction, Ephesians 6.5-8 A)
As servants 1.
Serve with obedience (5) submission 2.
With sincerity, fear and trembling, cheerfulness and trust. Proverbs 22.29 B)
Why? What if I am underpaid? 1.
Because you are serving God. 2.
Unto Christ (5); as a servant of Christ (60 doing the will of God (6); as unto
the Lord (7); the same shall he receive from the Lord (8); He who is our master
and theirs in heaven (9) C)
It is important to learn to work 1.
Never hard for my dad to find things for us to do. 2.
We need to teach our children the value of work. IV)
Our Spiritual Work A)
John 9.1-5 Jesus’ earthly ministry lasted a total of three years 1. He died at the age of 33. 2. He worked for a limited time but He worked with a
purpose. 3. Do we understand the limited time we have here in this
life? 4. Do we have a sense of spiritual purpose? Easy to get
side tracked and too busy to serve God. B)
Philippians 2.12 it takes effort on our part 1. God did the hard part offering up Jesus for our sins. 2. We have the easy part of accepting and doing His will. 3. When we love what we
are doing it is no longer work, it is service. C)
The time of rest is after this life is over, Revelation 14.12-13 1. We talk about retirement. 2. For some retirement is….
a. Sitting back on the porch and watching people go by
b. Fishing and playing golf all day
c. Working only when you want to (I like that) 3. For the Christian retirement is heaven after this life
is over. Conclusion: If you continue to live your life like you are
right now, will you go to heaven? John
6.29 |