This week I had the opportunity to attend a wonderful training on the correlation between substance abuse and employment. One of the presenters said something that I just can’t get out of my mind. She said, “The longer a client is unemployed, the sicker he gets.” In other words, the more time a person has on their hands, the more likely they are to go back and abuse drugs. Think about the things that we gain by being employed. Our jobs give us a sense of purpose. They give us a reason to get up and get going every morning. Our co-workers become our “work family,” and we gain a sense of accomplishment and pride when a job is “well done.” Oh, plus we get PAID for going to work. There are so many benefits of being a “worker,” that “non-workers” never know.
So, let’s compare those attributes to a Christian. Does being active in the Lord’s work affect us spiritually? Those who “leave their first love,” (Revelation 2:4) tend to be Christians who are not involved in the work of the church. The less you do, the “sicker” you get – with sin. When you’re busy doing the Lord’s work together, fellow Christians become your “church family.” You are working together to help each other go to heaven. Fulfilling the great commission – “As ye are going throughout the world, preach the gospel to every creature,” (Mark 16:15) is our purpose. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10) There is such a sense of accomplishment when we know that “we have done what we could.” (Mark 14:8) Oh – and the retirement plan – it’s out of this world!
Friends, we have been assigned tasks, such as to “pray without ceasing,” (I Thessalonians 5:7), and to “study to show ourselves approved unto God, (II Timothy 2:15). Doing these works helps us become stronger Christians, and gives us “the armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11) “We must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work.” (John 9:4) “To the work, to the work. . .” God Bless, Courtney