Are You Working?
In a recent article, we asked “Are You Ready?”. It seems that many may think if they consider themselves ready, they can quit working. I suppose this is acceptable when the labor of ‘getting ready’ is complete. This idea will suffice in the putting on of clothes and applying makeup etc. Those tasks, or efforts may be complete, but the final objective still has not been achieved. You’ve still not arrived at your destination, or accomplished those things for which you have been making preparations. There are always things needing to be done and work to be performed.
Some think when they retire from a specific job they have no more work to do. This is not the case as there is always something needing to be done. If nothing else, things break and need repairing, clothes must be washed, meals need to be planned and prepared, and many other ‘menial tasks’ await. In fact, many consider that the retired have nothing but ‘time on their hands’. When you ask a retired person what they have been doing, most will comment on how busy their lives now are. There are many retirees who will tell you “When I was working, I don’t know how I got anything done. Now I can’t find the time to accomplish the things I want to do each day”.
Work, by definition is: activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result. Key words here are ‘activity and effort’. As we exert ourselves and ‘toil’ toward our eternal goal, it shouldn’t be considered drudgery. We should never feel as though we are burdened as we serve God. Often the sage advice which goes unheeded is for one to engage in ‘work’ they love to do. An old Mark Twain quote applies with a job or any other task. “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This certainly applies in “true religion”.
A “job” by definition is: a paid position of regular employment. Sadly, many fail to realize that “pay” is often more than monetary gain. A reward when a job has been well done is also pay. There are many instances in this life when the ‘payoff’ comes long after much effort is put forth and the labor for the specific task has been completed. This is doubly true when a soul is at stake. In Matt. 25:21 & 23, as Jesus was telling the parable of the talents, spoke about the kingdom which was to soon be established. He indicates that a “well done” from the Lord is a ‘payoff’ for which all who enter the kingdom are to look forward.
Unfortunately, many Christians, (all who have been born again, having been taught correctly, and have contacted the blood of Christ in baptism for the remission of past sins), seem to feel that in so doing, they have done nearly all that needs to be done for Salvation. Some of these brethren seem to think that it is a “good thing” to attend worship services now and again. This seems to be especially prevalent as the ‘holidays’ approach. This is also one of the times when the ‘offerings’ become larger as if their giving then makes up for lack of doing so previously. These look on such as their “work” for the Lord and consider it sufficient.
Is this what the Spirit meant when He had Paul write: “. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” in Phil. 2:12? Had they not already “put on Christ” in baptism? Had they not already been ‘washed in the blood of Christ’? Of course, they had, or they would not have been “saints”, as is indicated in the opening verse of the epistle. Does not “always abounding in the work of the Lord” from1Cor 15:58 indicate there is much to do after becoming a ‘child of God’? Indeed, there is, and the Israelite Christians of Heb. 6:10 were reminded of this when the Spirit had the penman write: “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love . . .”. We today also should be reminded that according to 1Cor 3:8, . . . “every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”
Perhaps all who are children of God need to be reminded that the Work of the Lord in the New Testament age was Commanded by the Christ just after His resurrection. In Matt. 28:19-20 the kingdom was yet to be established. He had been given all authority, and this Commission applies until the trumpet sounds and time is no more. He was telling His apostles how folks were to enter the kingdom, as well as the perpetuity of God’s plan for the Salvation of lost souls when He said: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. If, as a Christian, we are not working, we are not ready.
As we read this let us be reminded that this two verse passage is a ‘command’ to work. Surely we see: 1) Go 2) teach 3) baptize 4) teach. Let each examine his or her self and ask, “Am I Working” as God would have me work? If we engage in God’s Work we’ll become stronger. We’ll become better, and better prepared. One is required to work until the end so they will remain ready. Obey the gospel; work to remain faithful; work to help others know the truth. Are you Working?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
