Col 3:23-24
The Attributes of Work (2)
We are finishing up last week’s message on the Attributes of Work.
For the last few months, we have been looking at character. It is
lacking today and the reason is because we have separated God from
our homes, our schools, our workplace, our child-rearing, and every-
thing else.
Character is God’s nature or law living out through us. If you remove
God, you lose character. Today, there is no teaching on character, I
imagine in large part because there is no curriculum or source.
After all, whoever writes the curriculum would have to decide what is
right and what is wrong. Who is going to do that? Many today have
been taught there is NO right or wrong. And many others apparently
much different views on what is right and wrong than I do. So who
would decide?
We have looked at:
1. Foundational Attributes (wisdom, love, self-control)
2. Gracious Attributes (gentleness, meekness, kindness)
3. Just Attributes (boldness, anger, righteousness)
4. People Attributes (respect, honor, integrity)
5. And last week, we began looking at the Work Attributes.
To appreciate the topic of work, I gave some Bible truths about work.
1. Work is not part of the curse.
2. There is no such thing as secular work.
a. All work is to glorify God.
(1) That does not mean that all work must center on
winning souls or teaching the Bible.
(2) But our work should be encouraging and helping to
others as well as honoring to God.
(3) Any work that detracts from God—especially if it
blasphemes God or hurts people—is unholy work and
should not exist.
b. If it does not, that is not secular work. It is sinful
work.
3. The problem some people have with work is not really with
work but with their calling. They end up working a job
that they are not gifted by God to work and they are
miserable. There are better ways to live than by working
a job you hate for money.
Then I gave some Bible attributes:
1. Orderly
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and
in order.
2. Punctual
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are
without, redeeming the time.
3. Honest - We did not get finished.
I. The Bible word for honest covers more territory than our word.
A. Our word basically means factual, truthful, or accurate and
relates to the words we say.
B. The Greek word includes that but means much more. Note some
texts:
Ro 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Ro 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day;
not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
envying.
2Co 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only
in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight
of men.
1. In the Greek, the word covers far more than just what we
say.
2. It also covers our actions and our lifestyle.
3. In the Greek, the word means to be or to live a good life,
a worthy life, a better life.
4. The thought is to live and treat others in such a way that
they are left better than when you first met them.
5. The honest life is the life that helps, improves, renders
better.
C. Like all of the attributes of character, this is a character
of God.
1. There was nothing so God made something to fill it up.
2. That something was corrupted by sin so God set about
making it better.
3. God made man, pure. Man sinned. God is going about
making it better.
4. God wants us to help, improve, render better as He does.
II. Far too many people are concerned with how they can benefit from
others instead of how they can help others to benefit.
A. Instead of working a job, they work people.
1. Instead of giving, they want to get.
2. They lack character.
B. The Bible actually talks about them a good bit.
1. The Old Testament term for them is a "sluggard."
2. It basically means a lazy person who will not work and if
he does work, he only does what he must and he does it
with as little competence as he can get by with.
3. That is in direct conflict with what our text tells us.
4. It also lacks this attribute of honesty.
C. What does the Bible say?
Pr 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider
her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and
gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when
wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a
little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that
travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
1. Note some things:
a. This is the first time the word "sluggard" is used.
b. \\#9-10\\ The sluggard is described as lazy, sleeping
and laying down when he should be out working.
c. The result of being lazy is poverty.
Pr 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a
slack hand: but the hand of the diligent
maketh rich.
Pr 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and
hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall
be made fat.
Pr 20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to
poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be
satisfied with bread.
(1) We need to remember something.
(2) While most everyone who is lazy may be poor,
everyone who is poor is not lazy.
(3) There is sickness, injuries, lack of ability,
lack of opportunity, and more.
(4) For those who are poor, God commands us to help
them. For those who are sluggards, God commands
us not to help them.
2Thess 3:10 For even when we were with you, this
we commanded you, that if any would not work,
neither should he eat.
(5) But poverty is the likely outcome of the lazy,
the only exception being that someone keeps
supplying them with funds.
2. Proverbs gives another mark to help identify the sluggard.
a. He/she will be a waster.
Pr 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is
brother to him that is a great waster.
Pr 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that
which he took in hunting: but the substance of
a diligent man is precious.
b. He/she will always have an excuse.
Pr 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason
of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest,
and have nothing.
Pr 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion
without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Pr 26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own
conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
D. This is all because the individual lacks character.
1. In particular, they lack honesty, the desire to leave self,
others, and this world better than when they found it.
2. Such a lifestyle causes a person to waste his life and
whatever others will give them.
III. It is not just that you have to be determined to leave a job or
project better than you found it, you have to have other gifts.
A. A worker must be teachable.
1. Humble
Mt 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall
be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall
be exalted.
2. Respectful
Ro 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues
…honour to whom honour.
3. Obedient
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your
masters according to the flesh; not with
eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness
of heart, fearing God:
B. Some jobs are frustrating and long.
1. He must be determined.
Lu 14:28 For which of you, intending to build
a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the
cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Ac 20:24 But none of these things move me,
neither count I my life dear unto myself, so
that I might finish my course with joy, and the
ministry, which I have received of the Lord
Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
2. He must be thorough
Pro 22:29 Seest thou a man diligent in his
business? he shall stand before kings; he shall
not stand before mean men.
C. Some jobs are difficult.
1. He must be creative.
Pro 18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth
knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh
knowledge.
2. He must have God’s help.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be
impossible.
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