Honest Labor Makes an Honest Man
Work as unto our Lord Jesus without complaint
In this age we see many men claiming riches with little or no work. These men push an image of slothfulness and high income. But this is not what the Bible tells us a good and honest man does.
For example, the Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his labor. These men pushing a work free lifestyle press on the lack of joy they had when they were actually working.
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. [Ecclesiastes 2:24 KJV]
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. [Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 KJV]
We are not to avoid work but to embraced it! Psalm 104 shows us the much of the work that our Lord did during creation and says how good it was! In Psalm 128 we read that we must eat the labor of our hands and it will cause us to be happy and well.
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. [Psalm 128:2 KJV]
But not only does the Bible tell us of all the good that comes from a man working. It also warns us that a slothful lifestyle is the exact opposite in Proverbs 21:25.
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. [Proverbs 21:25 KJV]
The Old Testament is packed with the good blessings of a working man. But let's dig into the New Testament as well. In Matthew 20, we read a parable of the laborers in the vineyard.
It's here we learn of a man who needs workers in his vineyard. He finds idle men in the morning and offers them money in exchange for their labor. He continues to do this through out the day for others standing around not working late into the day.
At the end of the day, the goodman of the vineyard gives the compensation. He gives the first laborers what he promised and chooses to give the same to the last. As expected, the first men were sore displeased due to not getting more.
The good man of the vineyard corrects the early workers. He tells them he fulfilled that which they agreed to work for and it's his choice to give to the last as he pleases.
What does this tell us? It tells us to be happy with the work we take on and the income in which we agree to. We must not complain that others make more or that we deserve more for the work we do. We are to be happy with what we receive and work unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
This does not mean you have to stay in a job that is not compensating you fairly. There is nothing wrong with finding a new job. Especially one which better suites your skill levels and compensates accordingly.
So brothers, work like you are are in the Kingdom of Christ; because you are and to Him will your final report be given.
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Excellent. I posted this on your IG thread, but Proverbs 23:4-5 came to mind also:
"Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven."