Work is Honorable

"Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve. " Colossians 3:23-24

Did you realize work is not a curse placed on man because of sin?  Work was a gift given to Adam at the very beginning of his life. In fact, God worked the first 6 days of creating.  And then He rested.  Man was created on the 6th day, so his first full day of life was resting.  And then he worked.  God rested from His work; man worked from his rest.  And that's the way it should be.

The work God gave Adam to do was to cultivate and keep the Garden of Eden.  There was discovery, delight, fulfillment, and VALUE in all that Adam did.  In fact, there was gold in one of the rivers flowing out of the garden.  Don't you imagine Adam discovered that?  He tilled the soil.  Everything was beautiful and...perfect.

Then Adam & Eve sinned.  Because of that sin, God had to remove them from the garden because if they'd eaten from the Tree of Life at that point, they (we) would have forever been locked into that sinful state with no hope of recovery.  After the fall, man wasn't cursed.  The only one cursed was the serpent.  Man was given a consequence for his sin.  Now he had to toil...not till.  Work would be difficult.  BUT when Jesus died on the cross and paid for our sins, he redeemed us.  And when we receive that free gift of salvation from our sin, it changes everything.  WE are redeemed.  Our WORK is redeemed!  We can once again till; we discover, delight, are fulfilled, and find VALUE in all we do.

God set up the principle that if we don't work, we don't eat.  (II Thess. 3:10)  He also said that a man who doesn't provide for his family has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  (I Tim. 5:8)  Can I just give an example of someone who has always provided for his family?  I so admire my middle son, David.  There have been times when he's been waiting (for years) on the job he really wanted to do, but he didn't remain idle.  He did whatever it took to provide for his family.  He waited tables.  And he became the best waiter Hoffbrau has ever had.  And while he did that, God was honored.  It was good, honest work which provided for his family.

There is no honest work that is shameful.  I believe we are created with a desire to do different things.  God has planted that purpose in each one of us.  If you enjoy what you do, you've already discovered part of that purpose.  It may be that you don't really enjoy the job, but you enjoy the opportunities it presents.  Work should bring fulfillment and purpose to our lives.  Work is a gift from God...and it is good and honorable.  And you're serving the King of all kings and fulfilling His good plan when you do it.