Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Perseverance”
Our Bible verse for today: “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.” Genesis 2:15 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “We are to persevere in our work.”
Two days ago our devotional message was on the subject of retirement. In that message I joined with Pastor John Piper in urging you not to retire. By that I did not mean to imply that you can never leave your career. I myself am a “retired” Naval Officer. I also did not mean to imply that we must always be engaged in an activity that results in a paycheck. If you have reached the point in life where you no longer need to earn wages, good for you!
However, barring poor health and physical incapacitation, we do need to remain as productive in meaningful activities as our circumstances allow. Not only is that important for our physical and emotional well-being, but it’s Biblical. Nowhere in the Bible does God make provision for His people to be idle and unproductive – at any age.
In Genesis 2:15 we find that even in the pre-sin world, even when creation was still perfect and Adam lived in paradise, God gave him work to do. Adam was to “work” the Garden. He was to tend it and care for it, watching over it and taking whatever action was needed. Adam had a job and along with everything else in God’s creation, it was good.
Work is important. Whether you are doing it for a paycheck, as a service to your church or community, or simply for the pure pleasure of accomplishing something worthwhile, work is good. As David Platt writes, “As we produce goods and provide services through all sorts of jobs, we are contributing to our culture in a way that serves people and honors God.”
Our world is so diverse that innumerable products and services are needed for the basic good of society. Food needs to be grown, processed, packaged, shipped, sold, and prepared. That requires farmers, factory workers, truck drivers, warehouse workers, salespeople, and cooks. All of those professions are needed and important. And that’s just one example. We need teachers and nurses, bus drivers and construction workers, counselors and secretaries. All work is good if it benefits other people and makes society a little better for everyone.
And so, we must persevere in our work. Whether we’re earning a paycheck or doing volunteer work, all of us are expected to, and even required by God, to be productive in meaningful ways.
If you would like to read an expanded teaching about the value and importance of work, see chapter thirteen of my book “Walking with Paul”. If you don’t have a copy you can get one at www.JimMersereauBooks.com, or visit with us at Oak Hill Baptist Church and I will be happy to give you a copy.
The Bible is clear that God expects us to utilize our time in constructive ways that benefit others and helps to make the world a better place.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 