The Importance of Work: Part 2

"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them." -Matt 24:14

"In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem." 
-2 Samuel 11:1 NIV

    Today I want to expand on the subject matter of work. Last time we looked at the importance and our necessity for it. Work is not something that we are encouraged to do but rather expected to. The work that God calls us to is not only for our benefit, but has far-reaching effects in that it helps build God's Kingdom here on Earth. That is a big task! Yet one that a loving and gracious God is willing to share with us as His co-laborers in the Gospel. What an amazing privilege...to be partakers of this work and the rewards that await us by participating. Though there are numerous reasons why work is indispensable (some of which we uncovered last time), this time we will uncover some of the dangers that result from neglecting it. I once heard a preacher say "the price of neglect is quite high" and when it comes to an unwillingness to work, this could not be more true. Once again, we will focus our attention on what the Scriptures say on this particular issue and what the Biblical response should be. 

Lazy? maybe...But wicked??

    When you hear someone described as wicked, what imagery comes to mind? A convicted felon, an abusive parent perhaps, but what about one unwilling to work? I think most of us would consider the latter as negligent, perhaps lazy but surely we would not describe that one as wicked! Yet this is exactly what the master of the house (in Matthew 25:26) called the servant who was unwilling to put his talents to work! So what was it that caused the master to use such harshness with his servant? 

    I believe there are a couple of truths that we must keep in mind. First we need to realize that the servant was given implicit orders to work. Verse 24 states, "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted [to give over into one's power or use] his wealth to them." We first notice how the master leaving on a journey, not willing that his talents sit idly by, delivers them to his servants for the primary purpose of being put to use...multiplied. With handing his talents over, the master was essentially instructing his servants to work with his money! From this we can gather two principles. One, the command to work is implied not always directly expressed. Two, it is important to the master that his talents grow and produce returns because when they do his territory will inevitably enlarge and influence grow. Therefore the servant's unwillingness to work was more than simple laziness, it was downright disobedience to his master's orders! 

    Next, verse 24 tells us that the master delivered his own wealth to his servants. Though the servants had autonomy to use their masters riches, the talents did not belong to them but to their master! The wealth was borrowed, not given. This should have prompted the servant to exert more diligence, knowing that his master would eventually return to collect what was rightfully his. This is significant because by refusing to work, the servant not only disobeyed orders but also obstructed his master from expanding his territory and influence! The servants actions, or rather inaction, not only affected him but his master and the influence he carried. Yet this unnamed servant wasn't the only one who refused to work and as we will soon see, the consequences for slothfulness are quite severe. 

The high cost of neglect...

    In reading the Scriptures, we find few men closer to the heart of God than King David. From his humble beginnings to the throne, God considered David a "man after his own heart". Yet as great of a man as he was, David experienced first hand the cost of refusing to work. 2 Samuel 11 tells the story of David's fall with Bathsheba. How walking along the rooftop of his home, he sees her bathing, and eventually commits adultery with her. In reading this painfully tragic story, one of my immediate questions is how could this possibly happen? How does one go from experiencing moments of deep intimacy with God to engaging in such a disastrous act? Personally I believe that part of the answer lies in verse 1 which says, "In the Spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men...But David remained in Jerusalem." 

    If there was ever a warrior in the Bible, it was David. From fighting the lion and the bear (1 Sam 17:36) to killing the last remnants of the giants (2 Sam 21:22), David was no stranger in the battlefield. Yet, for reasons unbeknownst to us, on this particular occasion, David remained home when he should have been at war. One can only wonder at the thought-processes that went into that decision. But the Bible does not give us a definite answer. What it does show us is the results of his error. In resting, when he should have been working, David put himself in a place where the enemy could entice him to sin. Now temptation is an unavoidable part of the Christian life that we must all endure (1 Cor 10:13). But the type of temptation that David experienced is what I refer to as unnecessary temptation-- that which can otherwise be avoided. When work is absent from our lives, boredom is bound to ensue. And while this may not seem important, boredom has a tendency to make us prime targets to the enemy's temptations. If a lack of work caused a great king to fall, think about the damage that our refusal to work can cause in our lives. 

What about us?

    

    I hope that by now you will have seen the Biblical importance, rewards, and consequences that follow those who work or refuse to do so. Much like the servants in the parable of the Ten Talents, our God has given each one of us talents with which we are to work. These talents are tools lent to us while we are here on Earth. They ultimately belong to our Lord and He, being the loving Master that He is, allows us to have them and be partakers of His work. We must work to be good stewards of the riches that our Father entrusts us with. While it is true that work is not always pleasant, work that is in obedience to God's will will always produce fruit in our lives and this fruit makes way for Heavenly rewards! That is something to get excited about!

Final Thoughts...

    Dear reader please know that our Heavenly Father has work for us to accomplish. There are God-ordained plans, purposes, and callings upon each of our lives that are waiting for our genuine yes! God desires us to become co-laborers with Him here on Earth. This is a privilege that is not to be taken lightly...that the King of kings and Lord of lords should want our help in fulfilling His plan and purpose here! Not only does this show how highly the Lord thinks of us but just how much He truly does love us. If you have ever doubted, questioned, or challenged God's love for you, I leave you with these words and pray that they sink to the deepest part of your heart and soul. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)..." 

-Eph 2:4-5