Tuesday, September 10, 2013

WORKING OR SHIRKING?

Time with Jesus - 11 Sept. 2013

Hi all,
The Genesis account of creation is beautiful beyond description. It’s a simplistic explanation of the process of going from nothing to a magnificent world, perfect in every respect.
A Beautiful World
Perfect in all Respects
According to “Your Dictionary” the definition of “simplistic” is making complex problems appear to be simpler than they are in reality. For example, saying "let's give food to all the hungry," is an example of a simplistic solution because solving world hungry isn't as easy as handing out food to everyone. 
Precisely how God went about creating isn’t spelled out. It wasn’t intended to be a detailed scientific account. God didn’t intend it to be understood that way. How could He do so? Even today, the technical detail would be such that few, if any, could understand every part of it. However, although each of the events may not be understood, the sequence is logical and believable by men and women of every age, regardless of intellectual ability. This makes it all the more believable!

We are told creation took place in six days. Some believe this to be six, twenty four hour periods. I will not argue this with you. My concern is that when God created light, our planet had yet to be created. Since “day” as we understand it, constitutes one revolution of our planet on its axis, how can we define a “day” in those terms when our planet didn’t exist on day one?
Adam's First Job
On the sixth day, God created human beings. In Genesis 1 we are told, 26 Then God said, "Let Us make human beings in Our image, to be like Us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground." 27 So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. Gen 1:26-27 NLT

The creation story continues to the “end” of the sixth day, when God looked at His handiwork and stated that everything was very good. 31 Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. Gen 1:31 NLT
Chapters and Verses?
When reading the Bible we must remember that in the original, there were no chapters and verse numbers. These are a man-made addition for our convenience. Although it has helped us find a place in Scripture, in many instances, the divisions have done more harm than good. 
Just in case we've forgotten!
A good example is the end of Genesis 1. Gen 2:1-3 fits more comfortably at the end of Genesis 1. For better understanding, in my opinion, Genesis 2 should begin at Gen 2:4. In this way, the establishment of the day of rest (the seventh day) would be seen as part of the overall creation account. The present chapter divisions give the impression that creation ended at the end of chapter 1. But the end was when God “stepped back” as it were, to look at creation and enjoy what He saw. He said It was very good!
If you don't do what he said,
This guy will surely shoot you dead!
In Gen 2, we note God created the Garden of Eden and placed Adam in it. Adam’s job was to “work” it! 15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Gen 2:15 NIV.
It’s an interesting observation that God required Adam to work before he was given a wife. Of course, this is how it should be. A man’s first priority is to work for a living. Interestingly enough, Adam’s work preceded fellowship with God in the cool of the day and before marriage and a family. 
In Summary
This principle applies even after the fall in Genesis 3. As a man, I am expected to provide for my wife and family before attending a church. I know this is not popular, but it follows the creation sequence. 
Get Going Guy!
God expects men to work to provide, initially for himself, then after marriage, to provide for his wife and children. It is the way it was originally intended. His wife was originally intended to be the nurturer; the producer of and care giver of their children. Basically, the man was to be the provider for the family. He would do this by working. The woman; the wife, was to be the carer of the family. This is stated simplistically. Furthermore, the fall of man has made the lot and the work of man and woman much harder.

Genesis 3 states, 16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you." 17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will eat the plants of the field. 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." Gen 3:16-19 NIV

The net result is that God expects men to work. In this regard Paul wrote: 10 Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat." 2 The. 3:10 MSG (Sorry guys, it’s a hard working world.)
The experience of women down through the centuries has been, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you”. In many respects, since the fall, women have “worked” harder than their male counterparts. 

We usually speak of the fall of man. Sometimes I think we should speak of “the fall of woman”. They appear to have “worked harder”, been pushed around and “suffered” far more than men over the past ±6000 years! Working, not shirking!
Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland






Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus – 11 Sept 2013
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
©
These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
©
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 impressive and a 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 ever 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

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 don’t 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

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

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