Day 2 – Work is an Action Word (Work Hard, Do Good) 

Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-14 

I remember at some point in time, after prayer, I’d carry this mindedness like “Oh Goodbye, God. See you the next time I pray”, or something like that, as though I was leaving God behind in those ‘sacred moments’. 

We’ve all been there. Be honest. 

Maybe for you, it would be that you walked from the doors of church on Sunday, or from your quiet time back to what you have felt is the ‘real world’. It’s like these mental lines are drawn for ‘God’s domain’, and ‘Your domain’. 

The truth is, when God made man in His image, He gave a mandate that man should have dominion over all the earth—not just within the four walls of the church. God is concerned about the entirety of creation and all of our interactions with it. 

Yet at some point in our existence, we began to believe that what we do from a Monday through to Saturday is less spiritual, or less significant to God than when we gather to worship on a Sunday. 

I figure the Thessalonians in our reading today, may have just thought the same way. Paul writes to them, calling them out on their Idleness and busybody-ness, and then laying a charge of work on them. In short, Paul was relaying, that because they have been saved is not an excuse for slothfulness. 

About work he says, “… never grow tired of doing good.”( 2 Thessalonians 3:13 VOICE) 

But what’s the fuss? Brother Paul, what’s it to you? 

I believe God lays such importance on work because He wants to partner with us to release a sound of heaven on the earth. 

In Exodus 3, when God wanted to liberate the people of Israel from Egypt, listen to what He said, 

“So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians…” Exodus 3:8 NKJV (emphasis added). 

Literally speaking, God didn’t come down. He just sent a man and went ahead of him. We are tasked to show up to do work, and God blesses it. 

In the words of 1st Corinthians 3:6-7, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow.” (MSG)

 Although we are all called to work, we are not called to just any kind of work, but honest and right work. 

Listen, “God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage.” Proverbs 20:23 MSG 

We live in a generation that resounds and defines work as a form of security, or a rate of measuring success. So maybe you’re reading this thinking what is in your hands right now is too mundane, or ordinary.  

I hope to remind you, it’s first of all a conversation that’s more about a heart posture tilted in faithfulness and hands stretched out in yieldedness to an all-powerful God.  

Proverbs 16:3 teaches us, “Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” 

It’s not so much about the spectacular or large platform moments. 

Jesus has always used simple people and simple things. 

Work is a good thing because it’s a God thing. 

As Jesus said in John 5:17, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” (NKJV)

If God hasn’t stopped working, we who are made in His image, why should we? 

So as Paul encouraged the Thessalonians, I leave you with this encouragement, “… never grow tired of doing good…” 2 Thessalonians 3:13 VOICE 

 

Something to Pray
Father thank you for the work of my hands. Help me stay reminded that I get to partner with you to express who You are in the world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Eme Agbor
Eme volunteers with the Bible Engagement team at Sycamore