If you're like me, you probably don't like your job. It's not that i don't like to work, i do, but what i do is rather boring. Not to mention, that my work history has alot of failure in it. I've recently discovered why, but that's a topic for a different day. Still, i want to work, but i want to do something interesting, and not get hassled for just being me.
On the other side, and i could be wrong, but there seems to be some Christians who think they shouldn't have to work. I'm not talking about doing ministry or missions, that is indeed work, I'm talking about Christians who (I may have long ago thought this way) thought I shouldn't have to work. As in supporting themselves through labor.
I don't know how prevalent this idea is, but there are Christians, who are fully able, not working. Sure, we're in a bad economy, but sometimes, we just have to take a job that's beneath us. After all, Jesus Christ did. He washed His disciple's feet. As God, He became a man, definitely something "beneath" His interests, so that He might elevate us who believe. He died a humiliating death on the cross, so that we who repent, believe in His payment for our sin and His resurrection can be with Him forever.
To you Christians, who think "i've been called by God to not work," God (via His Word, aka the Bible) has some choice words for you (and probably me too). It's kind of lazy perhaps, but here are some Bible passages related to work.
Certainly there are situations in which a person is unable to work (ie widows/orphans) and those people are to be treated in a different way. This message is for those who are able. This has nothing to do with salvation, or rewards for good works, but is just about the unpleasant reality we must all deal with. This is hardly all the Bible has to say about work, but it should be sufficient for us lazy folk.
2 Thess 3:6-15
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Yet count [him] not as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=2Th&c=3&v=1&t=KJV#1
John 13:1-17
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded.
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.
If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=13&v=1&t=KJV#1
Matthew 7:2-3
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Proverbs 6:6-11
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
1 Timothy 5:3-15
3 Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 5 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 6 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 7 And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11 But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15 For some are already turned aside after Satan.
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