By Lester L. LeMay

Published in the Christian Standard September 1, 1974

THIS is the age of the lazy man. It seems that the chief work of many people is to keep from doing any work. The office worker's chief concern is not service to his employer; but it is his break, his vacation, and his fringe benefits. The sales clerk takes no interest in her job or her customers, but spends her time watching the clock and conversing with the fellow clerks. This is a time when buildings are poorly built, jobs are only half done, bids are made with built-in-bribes, promises are not kept, repairs are slow and ineffective, and many people are just plain "lazy."

What has gone wrong? Is work a disease? Is it a sin to give an employer a good hard, honest day's work in return for your pay? Is it wrong to repair a machine so that it will work? Is it a crime to be courteous to a customer? Is it evil to have a joy in one's job and in doing it well?

It is only fair to note that those who answer "yes" to these questions are encouraged by some recent developments. For instance, five members of an automobile worker's union were charged by their fellow workers with "working too hard" and were fined and suspended from their union for two years. This action was approved by about 90 percent of the membership of the union!

Under our present systems of welfare, actually seeking a ob and doing useful work is penalized in many cases by reducing the welfare amount by 100 percent of the money earned. Some have found it easier and more profitable to do nothing and receive welfare-hence rearing a generation of children who feel the world "owes them a living."

Theological-Why do we talk about work in a sermon? Is work a theological subject? Yes, it is, for work is a part of life and as such it is a ministry to be respected and used for God's glory. A man's work is not separated from his faith; but is an evidence of it. Religion and the so-called "works of religion" are of no value if a man does not let his work reflect God's image.

Professor R. L. Calhoun of Yale said,

This means that it is really impossible for a workman who shirks and avoids work all week to worship God on Sunday. God is not honored by those who abuse His image. And God made man in His own image! (Genesis 1:27). And God is a creative worker! (John 5:17). This image of God we have soiled and spoiled almost beyond recognition. Instead, we exhibit the image of Satan--the blasphemer, the accuser, the deceiver, and the despoiler .

Jesus was a worker-a carpenter. Can we imagine Him doing a shoddy job of fashioning a yoke? Can we think of Him carving a piece of cheap wood and dyeing it to look like expensive wood? Would Jesus have done that? Not at all! He was God's image even in His work as a carpenter. God worked and is still working. Jesus Christ was not ashamed to do manual work, to walk from one town to another, or even as a servant to wash the feet of His disciples. Neither should we today be ashamed of any work, if it is honest and needed.

Joy of sharing- The work of a Christian is truly like play .. In play children imitate the work of their parents. In working, we practice the principles and laws God has given us to prepare us for His heavenly kingdom. We believe that God has a purpose and will for our lives. In our work we are proving and developing that will. A clerk as well as a clergyman can minister to people. A clerk's friendly smile and honest attention to the needs of a customer may do more to bring Christ into the life of that person than a sermon.

The Christian should always reflect the light of Christ as he is doing his work. Sometimes the light simply shines, lighting the pathway of others. Sometimes it produces the opportunity to kindle the light of Christ in another--because the person has already seen Christ in us. I hold no brief for the obnoxious kind of person who , 'forces his religion' , on unwilling fellow workers. But the one who is full of integrity and concern for his fellow man, because of the gift of Christ's grace, will often have the opportunity to speak in the name of Christ to the needs of his fellow workers. Even if a particular job is boring, or without opportunity for advancement, the Christian can still use every opportunity to show the spirit of the Christ, and God will reward him accordingly.

The New Testament admonitions to slaves and masters can be applied to employees and employers in many present day situations. The purpose of the work can be a means of glorifying God. Three men were once digging in the ground. When asked what they were doing, the first said, "I'm digging a ditch, can't you see?" The second said, "I'm working in construction." The third, when asked, said, "I'm helping to build a hospital, where the sick can be healed. " Which of these understood best what God was helping him to do?

Let us use our work to show what it means to be a Christian. Paul says,

" 'Whoever does not want to work is not allowed to eat.' We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives, who do nothing except meddle in other people’s business. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them: they must lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living. But you, brothers, must not get tired of doing good": 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13, Today’s English Version.

Under God’s Judgment – Our work is a part of our lives. It is an important part, and it is under God’s judgment of the whole. If the occupation which we now have cannot honestly be used by God, then we had better change our occupation. It would be better to have no job at all than to have one that would damn us for eternity. Jesus said, "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell" (Matthew 5:30, Today’s English Version

. If this is true of the right hand, how much more is it true of our occupation! Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:11 and 13, "I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler drunkard, or robber—not even to eat with such a one. . . . ‘Drive out the wicked person from among you.’" (Revised Standard Version).

Why does he advise this? Because people who continue in such sins cannot be a part of the kingdom of Heaven, and therefore ought not to be identified with the congregation of Christians on earth.

This brief reference to certain occupations will raise many questions that can be answered only by personal attention to the principles of the Scriptures. However,  there are really few jobs that require a person to sin. Jobs are mostly neutral, with both opportunities to serve God and temptations to stray from Him. A politician has a great many temptations to stray from the teachings of Christ. He may be more popular if he "bends" at times. However, a politician who is a true witnessing Christian can be of immeasurable help to his constituents. If this is the calling God has for him his labor will not be in vain, no matter how much difficulty he endures. Sometimes his defeats can be of more value than his victories, for they may arouse the people to a higher standard of righteous-

Vocational conversion-Often, a real conversion to Christ will cause a person to change his occupation. Some time ago in Texas, a night club owner trusted in Jesus Christ is Lord, and closed down his club only a month after it had opened. He could not stay in the business of providing alcoholic drinks and sensual pleasures after he had became a Christian. In Nigeria a young man selling gambling-pool tickets for a living accepted Christ as his Savior. He resigned immediately without any other employment. God looked after him and today he is a gospel preacher. A medical doctor had a very satisfactory suburban practice. He was a Christian, active in his church. However, he began to feel that he was not fully doing God's will. This good doctor founded a hospital in Nigeria where he treated five times as many people as he had in America. His income as a medical missionary is about ,fifth of what it was before. Yet his life now has meaning and worth, for he is doing God's will.

John Nelson has said, " God doesn't call any man or woman to a trivial or unimportant life work. If you can't see your job as being somehow vital and meaningful to mankind, change it or get out of it."

If a Christian needs to change his work, there are some standards he should not use, for they are unworthy of a Christian. (1) He should not change simply on the basis of worldly standards or prestige. Remember that Jesus sat at table with Pharisees and rulers--and also with sinners. He did not hesitate to rebuke Herod the King—nor to show kindness and mercy to a prostitute. He simply refused to take notice of worldly standards—for He had a different standard: "I came to do the will of him that sent me." (2) One should not change jobs for the sole incentive of making more money. Sometimes a drop in pay is a better mark of doing Christ’s will than a raise. One should choose to do what is right and trust God to do the same. Whether we do better work or change our occupation now, let us take heed to what one man has written:

The chief glory of work lies in the fact that it is really the only thing we can give that is our own. We do not produce our talents or the natural resources with which we work, but we do produce our toil. A carpenter who builds a beautiful bench cannot claim to have provided the wood or the other materials, yet he may be truly creative in the sense that, after his work has been done, there is something of beauty and of utility in the world that would not have existed, apart from his devoted labor. The result is different because he has put into it his energy, his thoughts, and his moral stamina. We may be stewards of our talents, but we are donors of our labor.

The better Job—Consecrated "lay" Christians often outstrip the professionals in their witness for Christ. John Bunyan, a tinker, gave the world an everlasting sermon in his book, Pilgrim’s Progress. J. C. Penney, a merchant, became known for emphasizing the Golden Rule and obedience to Jesus Christ in his business life. R. G. LeTourneau was known worldwide for his giant earthmoving and construction machines. He was also known as a devout Christian, giving constant testimony to the power and love of God. Christians do let their light shine and people see it and glorify God. When a man yields his talents to the direction of God, his work becomes a job and he actually does a better job. God looked at His own creative work and said, "It is good." In the same way, the Christian will rejoice in doing his job the very best way he can. If he is criticized or corrected, he will want to learn so that he will do better in the future. The Christian will not seek to take advantage of his employer and neither will the Christian employer seek to take advantage of his workmen. God has actually put them both on equal footing, for they are both responsible to Him for what they do.

One of the great treasures God has given us for doing work is prayer. One should learn to attack the problems of work with this spiritual power. It is not easy, especially when we have the habit of praying only when we are in trouble. It is essential to open any new project with sincere prayer seeking God’s will. In this spirit of obedience it will become impossible to ask God’s blessing on any unrighteous decision. And if we should be saddled with a routine job which requires no thinking at all, isn’t it better to be praying and thinking of God’s goodness while doing it?

Read Philippians 4:8, and then try to find these things in your daily work: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Now think of the true lack of prejudice on the part of young children of various races as they play together. Think of the basic honesty of returning an overpayment in change. Consider how just it is for the traffic policeman to warn those whose driving endangers themselves or others. And let the homemaker regard how lovely are clean clothes, freshly washed and ironed. Can we find a joy in a good report of the promotion of a fellow worker? Let the student consider that it is virtue to study for the sake of real understanding, and not just to make a passing grade. And praise? What a blessing it is to praise God often throughout the day, breaking into song as the glory passes over us; even praising Him when temptation comes, for we know He will give us power over it Do you see how every part of our life and work can be a thrilling experience of living with Christ?

Holy Leisure—But if Christ is the Lord of our work, He is also the Lord of our leisure time. We should use our non-occupational time to work for Him. Many do this during their rest breaks by reading the Bible and having a Bible class with interested persons. Even in our games, we can show Christ by playing with strict honest and goodwill to our opponents. Helping others to do good is always a Christian occupation Such concerns as being a "Big Brother" to a young person in need or concern and counsel, or becoming a volunteer health aide, or tutoring, visiting the sick or aged, and such activities may be done as joyful and rewarding experiences. A Christian never needs to fear giving such service without pay. The Bible rather warns, "Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never, never fail you or forsake you.’ That is why we can say without any doubt or fear, "The Lord is my Helper and I am not afraid of anything that mere man can do to me’" (Hebrews 13:5,6 Living Bible). END