lWork not an Option

Work is not an Option

Read: Proverbs 6:6-18

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.  Learn from their ways and be wise!  Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.  But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?  When will you wake up?  I want you to learn this lesson:”  Proverbs 6:6-9 NLT)

            Unfortunately, our society consists of two groups of people.  Those who are ready and willing to work and those who want everything without putting forth any effort.  Don’t get me wrong!  I know there are those who want to work and have been looking for jobs for a long time, but there are also those who would rather live off the welfare and entitlements of the government than go out into the work force. 

I have great sympathy and compassion for those who through no fault of their own have lost jobs and homes due to bad economic conditions.  My heart reaches out to them.  Their families and lives have been thrown into chaos, and many have been forced to live in homeless shelters.  Their sense of pride has taken a hit as they have to depend upon others for the basic necessities of life.  According to the Orlando Sentinel there are over 10,000 homeless children in Central Florida alone.  Last year, FBC of Orlando distributed 3,000 food boxes to homeless children while they were on spring break.  What are we doing to reach out and help these unfortunate families?  

During the days of the early pioneers “work was not an option.”  History books record that Captain John Smith took a firm stand and established the “no work, no eat” policy.  This meant that each healthy person, whether laborer or gentleman, must gather as much food to eat each day as he did or be banished. 

My father, who was named after Benjamin Franklin, spent countless hours ingraining within his children the pilgrim style work ethic.  I was given certain chores and woe on me if they were not carried out.  Each spring it became my duty to spade up and prepare a garden spot of 100 x 50 feet.  It wasn’t an easy task, especially since the ground in Pennsylvania was full of small glacier type stones, but the job eventually got finished.  The taste of a juicy red tomato in the summer was worth the effort. 

The Bible backs up the work ethic by saying, “This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before.  As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs.”  (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NLT)