Sermon : Recognizing Christian Workers Page 1 A. This is the Labor Day weekend. Recognizing Christian Workers Text : II Thessalonians 3: 1-15 1. In most countries Labor Day is May 1, but in America it is first Monday of Sept. 2. Officially, Labor Day honors the American labor movement and the contributions that workers have made to the strength, prosperity, laws and well-being of the country a. First Labor Day was observed by the Central Labor Union in 1882. b. It was very political so it started amid great controversy; now commonly accepted. c. In 1894 President Cleveland made it a holiday for all government workers. 3. For most people today it is not much more than the official end of summer. a. Lots of backyard barbeques. b. Parents celebrate the children going back to school. c. And rich folks stop wearing white. 4. Labor Day wasn t intended to have any religious or political implications, but it does. B. The scriptures neither endorse nor condemn unions or the labor movement, but they have a lot to say about man and his labors. S#2. The objective of this lesson is to observe four aspects of man s labors : 1. Mankind was created to work. 2. Mankind is instructed to be industrious. 3. Christians are commanded to be industrious people. 4. There are reasons why Christians are commanded to work. I. God created man to work.. S#3. S#1. A. God has a plan and a purpose behind everything He does. 1. The death of Jesus was according to the predetermined plan of God. Acts 2: 23.this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 2. Paul refers to the eternal purpose of God. Eph. 3:10-11.so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, S#4. S#5.
Sermon : Recognizing Christian Workers Page 2 3. God s plans do not change from generation to generation. Psa. 33: 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. S#6. B. God created man for the purpose of being the caretaker of His creation. S#7. 1. Everything God created, He created for a purpose. a. Prov. 16: 4 The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, S#8. Even the wicked for the day of evil. b. Thus, God had a purpose in mind when He created mankind. 2. God owns all that he created. Psa. 24: 1 The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. 3. As soon as man was created, God put him in the garden to care for it. Gen. 2: 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 4. This demonstrates why the unique and special nature of man s creation. a. Man alone was created by the hands of God all else was spoken into existence. Gen. 2: 7 Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. b. Woman was the only creature which came from another living creature. Gen. 2: 18, 21-22 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be S#10. alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.". 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 5. Man was put in charge of the whole earth. a. Gen. 1: 26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according S#11. to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." b. To rule over is a stewardship, not a licenses to exploit. 6. Thus, man was specifically created to do a work for God. C. It is the will of God that all people work. S#12. Exod. 23: 12 Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. S#9.
Sermon : Recognizing Christian Workers Page 3 II. It is the will of God that people work industriously.. S#13. A. The book of proverbs is replete with admonitions to avoid idleness. S#14. 1. Prov. 18: 9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys. 2. Prov. 10: 4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. 3. Prov. 13: 4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat. 4. Prov. 6: 6-11 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, S#15. 7 Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, 8 Prepares her food in the Summer And gathers her provision in the harvest. 9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 "A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest" 11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man. B. Proverbs also praises the diligent. 1. Prov. 12: 11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, S#16. But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense. 2. Prov. 14: 23 In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty. 3. Prov. 12: 27 A lazy man does not roast his prey, But the precious possession of a man is diligence. 4. Prov. 12: 24 The hand of the diligent will rule, But the slack hand will be put to forced labor. C. The scriptures instruct us to approach all our work with industriousness. S#17. 1. Eccl. 9: 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol ( grave ) where you are going. 2. This same O.T. principle is repeated in the N.T. a. Col. 3: 22-24 Slaves, ( Employees ) in all things obey those who are your S#18. masters ( Employers ) on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. b. In scripture, everyone is either a master or a servant so a servant is an employee. 3. There is satisfaction to be found in productive work. S#19. Eccl. 3: 12-13 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; 13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor it is the gift of God.
Sermon : Recognizing Christian Workers Page 4 III. As Christians we are commanded to be industrious people.. S#20. S#21. A. We ve seen that our attitude toward our work reflects our attitude toward God. 1. Col. 3: 24 do your work heartily It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 2. God sets the Christian up as an example of how the world is supposed to act. Matt. 5: 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 3. The Christian faithfully serves even an unfair and oppressive employer. I Pet. 2: 18-19 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not S#22. only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 4. Regardless of our circumstances, the Christian must be faithful to his employer. I Cor. 4: 2 moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. B. It is an honorable thing for a person to work with his hands. S#23. 1. Working with our hands is a command of God. I Thes. 4: 10-12 ( love ) But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, S#24. 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. 2. Christians are instructed not to assist people who WILL NOT work. a. II Thes. 3: 10-12 For even when we were with you, we used to give you S#25. this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. C. Work was not the curse that was given to Adam. 1. We have seen that prior to the fall : a. Adam was named as the steward of the planet. b. Adam was assigned to dress and keep the garden. c. Eve was created to be his helper in this task. 2. After the fall, Adam s work was made more difficult and burdensome. Gen. 3: 16 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice S#26. of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; and you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the
Sermon : Recognizing Christian Workers Page 5 sweat of your face you will eat bread, till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return." IV. There are reasons that Christians are commanded to work.. S#27. A. To glorify God. S#28. Phil. 2: 14-15 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, B. To enable us to eat our own bread. S#29. II Thes. 3: 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. C. To provide for one s family. I Tim. 5: 7-8 Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 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. S#30. D. To be able to help others. S#31. 1. Matt. 6: 19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 2. Eph. 4: 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, S#32. performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. E. God made us Christians so we would do work for Him. S#33. Eph. 2: 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. CONCLUSION : A. May God bless us to be able to work to His glory. S#34. Psa. 90: 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; and confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands. B. Bearing in mind that we do our work as serving God, not as serving men. S#35. Eph 6: 6-8 in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of S#36. eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. INVITATION : S#37. Communion slide
Sermon : Recognizing Christian Workers Page 6 Lesson Text : II Thessalonians 3: 1-15 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.