B i b l e S t u d y
Lesson: What Does the Bible Say about Work?
SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 20:8-11
GOLDEN TEXT: Ecclesiastes 9:10
The definition of 'work' is 'physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something. It is the means by which one earns one's livelihood, a trade, craft, business, or profession. Work is producing something from your effort put out.'
1. Does God command us to work? (Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15). How many days of the week are we to labor and do our work? Are we to remember to keep the seventh day Saturday Sabbath holy? Are we not to labor or work on the Sabbath? How long did God work when He made the heavens and the earth? Did God rest on the seventh day, bless it, hallow it, and make the Sabbath day holy?
Note: God commands us to work and rest. Remember there is no such thing as a free lunch. God expects us to be productive.
2. Did the apostle Paul work with labor night and day so that he would not be a burden on the Church? (2 Thessalonians 3:6-14).
Note: If we were to follow Paul’s example then we would want to have a job where we could be productive and not be a burden on others.
3. Did the apostle Paul command the Thessalonian Church that if anyone did not work he should not eat? (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).
Note: Some in the Thessalonian Church were not working at all and Paul called them busybodies and told them to work and eat their own bread.
4. Did the apostle Paul admonish Timothy that if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever? (1 Timothy 5:8).
5. Is there profit in work and labor? (Proverbs 14:23). Will wealth be gained as your labor increases? (Proverbs 13:11).
Note: God expects you to accomplish something and be productive.
6. Are we to enjoy the fruit of our labor? (Ecclesiastes 2:24). Are we to be happy in the labor of our hands? (Psalms 128:2). Is it a gift from God if we enjoy the good of our labor? (Ecclesiastes 3:13, 5:18-19).
7. Did the apostle Paul admonish the people in the Ephesian Church to put on the new man in righteousness and holiness? (Ephesians 4:24-28). Did he also tell them to work in labor and not to steal any more? (Verse 28). What were they then to do with some of their money?
8. What is our attitude to be toward labor and work? (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Note: You are to work with all of our might. Having a right attitude on your job is very important. Get along with everyone. The number one cause of a person being laid off is personality conflicts.
9. Does God work? (John 5:17). Does Jesus work?
Note: Obviously God and Jesus are setting an example of working that we need to follow.
10. Are you self motivated? Are you lazy? Should you consider the way of the ant? (Proverbs 6:6-11). What comes on you when you are lazy? (Verse 11).
Note: Look at an ant hill sometime and see how busy the ants are. They are in a hurry to get the job done of gathering food in from the harvest. If you are lazy then poverty comes on you.
11. Are we to prepare for our work? (Proverbs 24:27).
Note: Education is very important and a key element in preparing yourself for work. First you need to finish High School. If you don’t have a High School diploma, then set a goal to get your GED. Continue your education after High School by going to College or Vocational School to get the training you need for a good job that you can enjoy and get paid well for doing it. With education comes higher paid jobs.
12. As an employee, are we to obey our employers in doing the job right? (Colossians 3:22-23). Should we do our job as if we were working for God?
Note: We may not be slaves on the job but we are servants to our employers. We should give them eight hours of work for eight hours of pay. We can do a better job of being an employee if we have the attitude that we are working for God who sees everything that we do. We should not be boss pleasers and work when they are around and then goof off when they are not around.
13. What does God expect of your employer? (Colossians 4:1). Does He expect them to be just and fair?
Note: Notice that the boss has a boss in heaven and he is responsible to be fair and honest to his employees before God.
14. The virtuous wife is described in Proverbs 31:10-31. Does the virtuous wife willingly work with her hands? (Verse 13). Does she buy real estate? (Verse 16). Does she clothe her household? (Verse 21). Does she sell linen garments? (Verse 24).
Note: The virtuous wife is a good example of a good worker.
In Conclusion: There are many people today that are unemployed. Our nation is experiencing an unemployment rate of over 10%.
If you are unemployed then you should make a job out of getting a job. Put forth physical effort of looking for a job and put forth the spiritual effort in prayer and fasting in letting God know that you are serious about getting a job.
If you have a job, don’t forget to tithe and give God His part (Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 23:23).
Scriptures
Scripture Reading:
(Exodus 20:8-11 NKJV) ""Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. {9} Six days you shall labor and do all your work, {10} but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. {11} For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."
Golden Text: (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
1.) (Exo 20:8-11 NKJV) ""Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. {9} Six days you shall labor and do all your work, {10} but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. {11} For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it."
(Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NKJV) 'Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. {13} Six days you shall labor and do all your work, {14} but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. {15} And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
2.) (2 Thessalonians 3:6-14 NKJV) But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. {7} For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; {8} nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, {9} not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. {10} For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. {11} For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. {12} Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. {13} But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. {14} And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
4.) (1 Tim 5:8 NKJV) "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
5.) (Prov 14:23 NKJV) "In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty."
(Proverbs 13:11 NKJV) Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, But he who gathers by labor will increase.
6.) (Eccl 2:24 NKJV) "Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God."
(Psalms 128:2 NKJV) When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.
(Ecclesiastes 3:13 NKJV) and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor; it is the gift of God.
(Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 NKJV) Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. {19} As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.
7.) (Ephesians 4:24-28 NKJV) and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. {25} Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. {26} "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, {27} nor give place to the devil. {28} Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
8.) (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NKJV) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
9.) (John 5:17 NKJV) "But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.""
10.) (Proverbs 6:6-11 NKJV) Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, {7} Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, {8} Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. {9} How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? {10} A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep; {11} So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
11.) (Prov 24:27 NKJV) "Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house."
12.) (Colossians 3:22-23 NKJV) Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. {23} And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
13.) (Colossians 4:1 NKJV) Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
14.) The Wife of Noble Character
(Proverbs 31:10-31 NKJV) Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. {11} The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. {12} She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. {13} She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. {14} She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. {15} She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. {16} She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. {17} She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. {18} She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. {19} She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. {20} She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. {21} She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. {22} She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. {23} Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. {24} She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. {25} Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. {26} She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. {27} She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. {28} Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: {29} "Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all." {30} Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. {31} Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.
(Malachi 3:8-10 NKJV) "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. {9} You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. {10} Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
(Matthew 23:23 NKJV) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.