9/14 Crumbs from the Master's Table

Work, for the days is coming...

2 Thessalonians 3

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (v. 10)

Life for us seems to consist of three basic things, at least on this earth and in this day: Eating, sleeping and working. We eat for a few hours in life; we sleep for several more; we also work for a time, then we go on to glory. It seems to be an almost endless cycle. Oh, there are some fleeting moments of pleasures thrown in, but that is an incentive, a boost, the “fruit of our labors” perhaps. The body demands food, so we easily succumb to it in that area; it craves sleep, and that is not a hard thing for us either, but work? Work is voluntary—it is that which we must decide to do on our own, and not that which the body compels us to do. In all simplicity, this life consists of eat, sleep and work, in no particular order.

Eat and sleep are then carnal things, they strengthen the body, and are made for it. Work, on the other hand, can be both carnal and spiritual; it can strengthen the body, but it also strengthens the soul. A similar analogy can be seen in Proverbs 17: 3—the “fining pot” refines the silver. It is made for that purpose. The “furnace” refines the gold, and that is its solemn and most precious duty, both of these minerals are of the earth, and earthly, and so they are refined by earthly means; but the Lord, He refines the heart, which is not of the earth, though it was made of earth. So, you see, work can be both natural and spiritual, and we are the guide to direct it in the right direction, but first we need to determine to work. God needs volunteers. We need to direct our works toward the things of God, and the “spiritual” realm, as well as taking care of the physical. Though we labor in this life, it is often harder to work the spiritual work than the physical, and yet we must do so.

The Bible clearly teaches that we are to work for a living, and it strongly suggests that we also work toward the edification of the church, and to the glory of God. It is a two-fold work we undertake, both carnal and spiritual. We need to thank God for both aspects of work; our jobs, as well as our duties to the Lord and His work, and when it comes down to the final analysis we must strive for the Lord’s work more earnestly and be more industrious in it than we are to the labors of this world.