Stop and Share God’s Blessings

The are those who work hard at their jobs and then there are those who are addicted to their jobs or working. The following statistics are taken from insurance quotes:

● Thirty-four percent of American adults don’t take their vacation days.
● Between 1970 and 2006, the average number of hours in a working year skyrocketed by 200!
● Workaholics have a higher rate of heart disease.
● More severe workaholics can’t even relax on vacation without getting sick.
● Anyone working 12 or more hours a day is 37% more vulnerable to job-related injury or illness.

Workaholics

Just what is a workaholic. Much like the alcoholic, the workaholic is driven to drowning himself in his work to the point of consuming all aspects of his life, just as another may drowned himself in a bottle of booze. Workololism is reaching critical proportions in this country.

There are several reasons why so many become so absorbed in their work. Sometimes the individual’s self-esteem is so low that they have nothing by which to identify their self-importance than the work they do. If he is a High School football coach who has such an identity crisis, he will focus on nothing else but his team. The more successful he becomes the more he is driven. Some of these men will end up winning many football games, but lose their wife, children, friends, and soul. They may be unconsciously trying to prove their worth. Others equate achievement with success. They fail to realize that life consist more than an abundance of business achievements. Still others have such a strong work ethic that they legalistically view hard work as a plan of salvation in itself. The harder they work the more pleasing they think they will be to God. Many preachers will fall prey to the idea that they are justified in long hours because of the importance of their work. Finally, there are those who are so materialistic that they are working hard to have all those things their greedy heart desires. Work for them is but a form of idol worshiping. Their credo is: HE WHO DIES WITH THE MOST TOYS WINS. Wins what? The Rich Fool thought he won it big time with his bumper crop, only to lose his soul. Jesus “spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Lk. 15:12-21).

The Need for Leisure Time

It is interesting to note that Jesus was by no means lazy or a workaholic. According to Mark 6:3 His physical occupation was that of a carpenter. It was very hard work by ancient standards. Naturally, they did not have the power tools of their modern day counterpart. During His earthly ministry there were times when He labored long hours teaching, preaching, and healing. Nonetheless, there are several times when we are told, He deliberately took a break. The Gospel of Mark tells us of one such occasion. “Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things” (Mk. 6:30-34). Christ’s priorities were prefect. He recognized the value of His work, but even He noticed the human need for recreation or shall we say “Re-Creation”.

The fact is the Creator deliberately stopped working after six days of creation for a day of rest (Gen. 2:1-3). Not that the All Powerful One ever gets tired, bored, or lazy. Yet, His creation would need periods of rest. Man, His highest creation was designed to rest. As a matter of fact in order to be effective we must have periods of rest.
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. This old saying holds much truth for modern man. The man who is so absorbed in his own work will see little need in focusing on the other important realms of his life. Being a social creature, forms of recreation are essential to establishing and maintaining relationships with our spouses, children, grandchildren, brethren, neighbors, and even co-workers. Additionally, the health of our mind and body are greatly enhanced by periods of leisure. By leisure I do not mean mere inactivity, but doing things that relax and rejuvenate us, giving us a break from the normal work routine.

Work can often interfere with our spiritual life. When Jesus came to the home of Mary and Martha it was a joyous occasion. However, Martha was upset and told Jesus to reprimand Mary for not busying herself with the preparations for the guest. Jesus responded, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary had chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41,42). Nor should you allow the much needed leisure time be taken away from you. Yet, many fail to equate a time of rest and relaxation with setting down at the feet of Jesus and learning from His Word. Antithesis to this notion is not only observed here by Mary, but by many modern Christians. While I worshipped with a small congregation in Florida, there was a construction supervisor who made it a point to attend every Wednesday night. When the time came for Bible Study he would tell his assistants to carry on, for he would return from church in about two hours. Once a co-worker inquired, “you mean you have to go to church on Wednesday nights”. This brother replied, “no, I get to go to church on Wednesday nights”. In relating this to me he added, “I work long and hard, and I need the rest and relaxation mid-week Bible Studies bring. I can’t understand how others think of it was a burden to come.”
Work is vital and essential for the New Testament Christian. However, we must “stop and smell the roses” God has created for our noses. In our work-worshiping world, that is no simple assignment. You see, work and leisure are not foes, but indispensable companions of a Christian’s life. Believe it or not, there is more to life than the job. When you arrive at Judgment your leisure time will be just as positively effect our eternal destiny as did your years of hard labor.

A Christian on the job has more at stake than his rights or a paycheck. The salvation of your soul, your co-workers’ souls and even the soul of your boss is on the line. Let them see Christ living in you even when you have to suffer wrong.

– by Daniel R. Vess

A Mother’s Finished Product

I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day-
And as my fingers pressed it, still
It moved and yielded to my will.
I came again when days were past
The bit of clay was hard at last.
The form I gave it, still it bore,
And I could change that form no more!
I took a piece of living clay,
And gently fashioned it day by day,
And molded with my power and art
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.
I came again when years were gone:
It was a man I looked upon.
He still that early impress bore,
And I could fashion it never more.

News & Notes
● Morning’s Lesson: Most Valuable Member
● Contribution Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
● Tonight’s Sermon will be: Animal Rights
● Children’s Bible Drill this evening after services.
● GOSPEL MEETING!!! November 3-6.
● Thanks to all you made Workday a success.

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