WORKING OR SHIRKING?

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is about integrity. It’s about working or shirking. We look at the problem we have with many brothers and sister who do not want to work. Be aware that I’m not talking about those who cannot work because of whatever. It’s about those who don’t want to work and would rather others provided for them

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 11 September 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	WORKING OR SHIRKING?
Naivety is one of the most prevalent difficulties associated with Christianity today. We tend to believe anything and trust everyone. It doesn’t take long before the gilt wears off the gingerbread and for us to realise that, generally speaking, Christians are not much different from unbelievers. I know it’s a terrible conclusion to reach but it’s true. We know it shouldn’t be this way. Christians should live a Christ-like lifestyle. We seldom find this to be the case. The biggest surprise in this regard was when I went to Bible school. My expectation was that all of us would be doing our very best to live a Biblical lifestyle. Many did. But the lifestyle was more like that of Ahab and Jezebel than of Jesus. Within three weeks a man was “unmasked”. He could “flow in the Holy Spirit” and “prophesy” most convincingly. Sadly he was like Elmer Gantry. His purpose was to rip-off young ladies. He was most impressive and total shyster. I had been able to save the fees for Bible School and paid for the full year in advance. The norm seemed to be people who wanted to attend for free. They had been “called” to attend Bible School but had no money to pay the fees. For several months the school staff pursued them before eventually either the people left or they paid up. They found someone to pay their fees! What really shook Phyllida and me was the way so many Christians were not interested in working. They said they were trusting God for their finances. But the idea of working was anathema. They struggled on day after day, week after week and year after year. At the end of the period they were still waiting for God to fill their pockets. It’s rather sad. Much of this originates from our passion for taking Scripture out of context. A good example comes from Phil. 4:13 It’s qualified by Phil. 4:12, the preceding verse. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Phil. 4:12-13 NLT Looking at both verses together we see that Paul was talking about living with and without the essentials of life. He was saying Jesus empowered him to do all this in and through His strength. Phil. 4:19 NLT has also been misinterpreted. In the previous verses, Paul was referring to how their gift had provided for his needs. Paul was confident that others would provide for their needs in a similar way in and through Jesus. What was sad was that 2 Thess. 3:10 (Anyone who will not work will not eat) & 1 Thess. 4:11 (do your work, and earn your own living), were ignored. Not that we were surprised. Why work if you can find someone who will support you financially? I’m trying not to be cynical, but it’s not easy. Christians are not welcome by many businesses, because they don’t pay their bills. They steal from their brothers and sisters when they ask them to do a job and have no means of paying their bill. That makes them liars and thieves! This happens regularly. Personally, I prefer not to do business with a Christian unless I know he/she will pay up. I can’t afford to work without them paying their bills. Am I being too fussy? I don’t think so. What I’m longing to see is integrity among my brothers and sisters in Jesus. Is it likely to happen? You tell me. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			23 Meanwhile, men and women go out to work, busy at their jobs until evening. Psalms 104:23 MSG 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." Genesis 3:19 TNIV 10 Even when we were with you, we gave you a rule. We said, "Anyone who will not work will not eat." 2 Thessalonians 3:10 NIrV 11 Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 GW 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. John 9:4 NLT 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV 58 My dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Don't let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not worthless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NIrV 9 So there is still a Sabbath rest for God's people. Hebrews 4:9 NIrV 12 'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.' Matthew 20:12 MSG 12 to whom he has said, "This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose"; yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:12 ESV	I’m told that we are swearing when we use four letter words. A lot of people do so. Still do, from what I’ve heard. Some words are quite disgusting and banned from Christian speech. But even so, for some of them, these words are still in reach. But now there is another word which seems to haunt the church. Some Christian when they hear it, it knocks them off their perch. Please read it very quietly and don’t spread it around. Some people say it’s toxic and never should be found, In any Christian circle, because they’re trusting God, To get another hand out, while on the road they trod. What is this frightful little word that makes folk run off scared? I’m going to have to use it, although you’re unprepared. It only has four letters and rhymes with the word “shirk”. So please excuse me using it; the little word is “work”. I know it isn’t popular, but it’s what God requires. Sadly, many Christians, find that the word inspires Many to be busy.  They’d rather spend the day, Jabbering and chattering in every sort of way. “I’m trusting God” they tell us. “I hate activity; And I’ve received a calling that’s totally work free. Please do not be offended. I think I’d rather pray For God to send me money, in His mysterious way”. We meet them by the dozen and mostly they are poor, Some are getting hungry, but they are very sure, That just around the corner, someone will help them out; That they’ll be given millions, they do not ever doubt. They do not read the Bible to find what it contains. The thought of their employment, is banished from their brains. It seems they are allergic to working with their hands. And haven’t ever read the Word, that says the Lord demands, His people to be working. Without it, they won’t eat. That’s what the Lord is saying. Man has to earn his meat! Whatever you can find to do, do it with all your might. That way the Lord will bless you, with blessings “out of sight”. There is a sure connection about our daily bread. God says, “Go out and earn it, without food you’ll be dead”. And if you are a father, it’s you who must provide, To feed all of your family. From this you cannot hide. The Lord holds you responsible for all your family. If anyone is starving, He’ll put the blame on thee. And though it sounds unsavoury, make work your way of life. Then He will take good care of you, your family and wife. Jim Strickland – Written 11th September 2012