[This is the Second message in a series of 'Work and Work-issues' devotionals begun on Oct.6]
Key verses: Col.3:23- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.." (ESV)
Mark 6:31a- “And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” (NKJV)
Some Americans love their work more than they love their friends, their families—or God.
I think it was Chuck Swindoll who wrote: “We Americans of today have inverted values: We worship our work, we work at our play, and we play at our worship.” If laziness is a sub-Christian attribute, so is frenzied workaholism.
Christ’s people are not called to worship our work; rather, we are to worship our Lord in the wholehearted performance of our work. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” –Col.3:17.
Furthermore: Perpetual work without rest is contrary to Scripture.
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work.” (Ex.20:9-10a; See also Ex.31:15).
In collective and societal terms, we might defend seven days of necessary work (such as law enforcement and critical health care), but we cannot argue from Scripture that it is God’s Will for human individuals to work every day without time off for rest and worship.
"Do not overwork to be rich."---Prov.23:4a (NKJV)
Bear in mind that no New Testament passage presents workaholism as a viable, God-honoring lifestyle. Consider the language of Col.3:23- “Work heartily”, not “Work continually.”
In point of fact, the New Testament teaches a balance between work and rest and worship. According to Mark 6:31, Jesus commanded His disciples to go to a deserted place and get some rest. In Luke 5, Jesus worked miracles and cured a leper. Crowds of people gathered to hear Jesus and to be healed by Him. But v.16 sounds almost jarring to our 21st century ears: “So He [Jesus] Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” The Son of God ‘often’ withdrew from viable and important ministry, so He could prayerfully worship. And: Jesus did more than ‘play at worship.’
You cannot shoehorn Jesus’ ministry into a defense of the 24/7 workaholic lifestyle.
May God grant to the people of Jesus the wisdom to balance our work, rest and worship as we devote ourselves to His glory, on the job and away from it.
Key verses: Col.3:23- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.." (ESV)
Mark 6:31a- “And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile.” (NKJV)
Some Americans love their work more than they love their friends, their families—or God.
I think it was Chuck Swindoll who wrote: “We Americans of today have inverted values: We worship our work, we work at our play, and we play at our worship.” If laziness is a sub-Christian attribute, so is frenzied workaholism.
Christ’s people are not called to worship our work; rather, we are to worship our Lord in the wholehearted performance of our work. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” –Col.3:17.
Furthermore: Perpetual work without rest is contrary to Scripture.
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work.” (Ex.20:9-10a; See also Ex.31:15).
In collective and societal terms, we might defend seven days of necessary work (such as law enforcement and critical health care), but we cannot argue from Scripture that it is God’s Will for human individuals to work every day without time off for rest and worship.
"Do not overwork to be rich."---Prov.23:4a (NKJV)
Bear in mind that no New Testament passage presents workaholism as a viable, God-honoring lifestyle. Consider the language of Col.3:23- “Work heartily”, not “Work continually.”
In point of fact, the New Testament teaches a balance between work and rest and worship. According to Mark 6:31, Jesus commanded His disciples to go to a deserted place and get some rest. In Luke 5, Jesus worked miracles and cured a leper. Crowds of people gathered to hear Jesus and to be healed by Him. But v.16 sounds almost jarring to our 21st century ears: “So He [Jesus] Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” The Son of God ‘often’ withdrew from viable and important ministry, so He could prayerfully worship. And: Jesus did more than ‘play at worship.’
You cannot shoehorn Jesus’ ministry into a defense of the 24/7 workaholic lifestyle.
May God grant to the people of Jesus the wisdom to balance our work, rest and worship as we devote ourselves to His glory, on the job and away from it.
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