Long's Chapel Christian Church

Some Thoughts About Labor Day! September 5, 2010
Thess 3: 6-15

Labor Day is a strange holiday. It is called Labor Day, but we do as little labor as possible and most working people get the day off. I don’t remember anyone wishing me a “happy Labor day” or sending me a Labor Day card.
We don’t decorate our houses or give Labor Day gifts. Labor Day is different things to different people. To factory or office worker, it might be a day off. Even the florists and greeting card manufactures haven’t found a way to capitalize on it. Mothers usually have the kids and dad to deal with.
It’s a boon to resorts and tourist centers and a bad weekend for the church because everyone wants to travel. It is rough for the policemen with the extra travel and people drinking too much.
I. God has commanded us to work
Work is very important part of God’s revelation and will for people.
1. God has always honored and provided work. God worked and rested in the seventh day. We are created in His image and He has given us work to do. “We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works. God prepared in advance for us work.
2. When Jesus came to earth, God honored his work. Jesus announced His birth to working shepherds. Jesus Himself learned a trade and worked with His hands. Jesus chose working men as His apostles. Jesus preached His message to the working class and common people.
II. God will reward His workers:
1. Work brings about the satisfaction of peaceful sleep (Eccl. 5:12).
2. Work, well done, is worthy of a reasonable wage (Mat 10:10).
The church in Thessalonica had some problems. Some of the believers has a wrong response to the imminent return of Christ and stopped working and become idle. Because they had noting to do, they ran around spreading panic and putting their noses where they did not belong. Paul refers to them as busybodies. They had time on their hands and gossip on their lips but they defended themselves by saying, “The Lord is coming soon!” This is the third time the Apostle Paul attacked their faulty views of work.
3. The Apostle Paul uses this passage to promote a biblical theology of labor to this young congregation. He gives six ways to stay busy for Christ in this passage:
1. You must stay away the idle (6). The Apostle uses authority from the Lord to warn the believers to stay away from the idle. Pull back from those who are idle. Those who are idle are disorderly and have gone AWOL form their God-given responsibilities.
2. You must follow the example of hard workers. (7-9). Paul refers to his own example in verse 7-9, along with Silas and Timothy; they modeled what it means to “labor and toil,” which means, “to work to the point of pain.” They did this night and day when they were with them. They were entitled to some support, but refuse because they wanted to give them a model that they could imitate. Remember “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
3. Work is the responsible thing to do (10-12). In verse 10 Paul repeats this statement. “If a man will not work, he shall not eat”. He is referring to those who will not work, to those who are idle even when work is available and they are able.
4. Work and do right even when others do not (13). “Let us not become weary in doing well, for the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
5. Don’t hang out with slackers (14). Don’t hang out with those who refuse to obey orders and have a rebellious spirit.
6. Be loving toward those who refuse instruction. The offenders are not enemies but fellow believers in the Lord. Love them but do not love their sin.
Working for the Lord is a marvelous opportunity and God will always be glorified and you will receive a reward for your work!