Here’s a four-letter word we shouldn’t hesitate to say or do
By Dean Collins
It’s a four-letter word we shouldn’t hesitate to say or do. In fact, it’s a word that goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden, when things were as they were intended, and I suspect will still be with us when all things are back the way God intended. If God thought it important in the beginning, then I imagine he will think it true in the end. W O R K.
Important to God
We complain about work a lot. Much is written from both secular and faith perspectives about the importance of rest. We certainly need rest. We do not have unlimited mental or physical capacity. The spiritual guides tell us God rested on the seventh day of creation, so if rest is important to God, then it should be important to us as well. But consider the flip side. If work is important to God then maybe we should view it as he does—with much less complaining.
In 1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12, Paul urged those believers to continuing to demonstrate love more and more. As followers of Christ, we must never hold back in expressing our love to others.
Then Paul added this to his instruction to love more and more: “Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.”
Continuing the work
We might want to write this verse on the bathroom mirror as a daily reminder of how to act and what to do as we continue the work of loving as Christ loved.
1) Aspire to live quietly.—Maybe this was the first recorded warning not to get caught up in the world of social media. Sure, you can sit alone quietly anywhere, but if from your quiet seat you engage in constant social media noise, I am not sure you are heeding Paul’s warning. To live quietly probably includes not sticking your nose or opinion into every situation you happen to hear about. Of course your love for others demands genuine involvement in giving and serving others, but that is different than offering unsolicited advice on everything happening in the world—or your own neighborhood.
2) Mind your own affairs.—This flows naturally from aspiring to live quietly but also means taking responsibility for your own life. Read, learn, and go to work in order to generate the income you need to live. Focus on your spiritual growth through prayer, scripture reading, and by finding meaningful friendships and engagement with your community of faith. But don’t expect everyone to solve all of your problems or answer all of your questions. There is personal responsibility involved in our lives of faith.
3) Work with your hands.—In ancient times this translated into good, old-fashioned daily survival that included growing food, providing shelter, and making whatever you needed to wear or use to survive and live. Even though today we can purchase most of what we need, the principle of manual labor is a valuable, even spiritual, activity. This means using whatever talents and competencies you have for the greater good of serving others and bringing success to the business, church, or nonprofit where you are employed.
All of these instructions lead to how we will be viewed by others, especially the others who do not yet know the life Jesus offers them. When we humbly do our work and care for others genuinely then those who don’t know Jesus will know we are different from what they see in the world. Our attitude will stir curiosity and cultivate the soil of hearts to receive the seed of the gospel in their lives.
Work will end
As I read this verse, an old hymn came to mind. Annie Walker Coghill was 18 when she wrote it, before she later married Harry Coghill. She was raised in England, but when she visited family in Canada and experienced short days there, these words came to mind, and she wrote them as a poem. Lowell Mason later added the melody. The hymn is titled “Work for the Night is Coming.” The words are below and serve as a reminder that life is short and is best used in doing our work, which is actually the Lord’s work and plan for us while we dwell here and await the work and joy of Heaven.
Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the morning hours;
Work while the dew is sparkling,
Work ’mid springing flow’rs.
Work when the day grows brighter,
Work in the glowing sun;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man’s work is done.Work, for the night is coming,
Work through the sunny noon;
Fill brightest hours with labor,
Rest comes sure and soon.
Give every flying minute
Something to keep in store;
Work, for the night is coming,
When man works no more.Work, for the night is coming,
Under the sunset skies;
While their bright tints are glowing,
Work, for daylight flies.
Work till the last beam fadeth,
Fadeth to shine no more;
Work, while the night is dark’ning,
When man’s work is o’er.
Your time with God’s Word
John 9:4-5 ESV
Photos by Javad Esmaeili and Daniele Colucci at unsplash.com
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