Torch, Fall 1983

4 T here is only one good thing in life that we get without work - salvation. There is no possibility of earning, meriting, or paying for this great gift from God. The Scriptures teach in Ephesians 2:8-10 and Titus 3:3-7 that it is, instead, a gift received on the basis of grace by means of faith; it is a gift received, not a wage earned. Beyond salvation, however, every other thing in life worth having requires work. Good things do not come to us automatically or effortlessly, and the earlier in life that we realize this the better! Do we want to have a beautiful house, a well manicured lawn, a harmonious family, a college education, a victorious spiritual life, and an effective church? The only way to have them is to work for them. We must make them happen by an active effort. Why? Because this is the way God intended life to be! Work was and is God's idea! It does not take a great deal of insight to grasp the fact that work originated with God . The early verses of Genesis indicate that He fully intended that work be a part of man's normal routine . Built into God's cultural mandate for man to have dominion over every level of His created world was the concept of work. How could man possibly subdue air, land, and sea without working? The fact that God planted a garden in Eden and then placed man in that garden to dress and to keep it indicates that God planned for man to fill his days with productive effort, that is, with work . What is noteworthy is that man was a worker before he was ever a sinner. In Genesis 2 he went to work; in Genesis 3 he fell into sin . Now it is true that sin ultimately affected his work. His work became irksome and difficult; sin complicated the process of working, making it WORK in tltt' WORD laborious and wearying. God, however, provided work as an inherently good thing . It was not to make man feel weary but worthwhile, not frustrated but fulfilled . To work then is to fulfill a part of the very plan of which we are a part. Not only must we work, but we must also do our work with the Lord in mind. Note the Apostle Paul's thoughts: Servants , be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh , with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the lord, and not to men: knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And ye masters , do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect ofpersons with him. Ephesians 6:5-9 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh ; not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons . Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Colossians 3:22-4: 1