Pleas Clarify

[Danielw]

Hi

I was wondering if someone could clarify something. There's a question I've been wanting to ask for a long time.

Throughout my life I've always been taught the importance and value of working hard and I do, but years ago I went to a church where the reverends their would often say that we don't have to do anything except for to acknowledge and praise god.

My understanding is that the new testament teaches we should do things but in everything we do we should do in a good way or as the new testament says to do things, "bearing good fruit".

I understand this but I would like to believe that the bible teaches that hard work should be practiced and I would also think that reverends preaching in churches would encourage hard work rather preach that we shouldn't do anything except for to acknowledge and to praise god, because surely the work we do would come under the good works we do to serve by doing our day jobs and other works in a way that is good.

Dan W

 

[GodsGrace]

Hi DW

Welcome to CFnet. I believe you'll enjoy your time spent here.

I agree with you. I have come to learn of something called "works salvation."
There are persons who are taught that we cannot work our way to salvation.

This is TRUE!
Nothing we do can save us. It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved.
Ephesians 2:8

But what happens AFTER we're saved?
Many forget to read
Ephesians 2:10
It says that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS.

Jesus Himself gave us much instruction on how we are to behave and how we are to act.
Just read the gospel of Mathew, and in Jesus' own words you will find in chapters 5 to 7 exactly what He expects from us.

So "works" has become an ugly word in some churches.
I like to follow what JESUS taught since HE is the Son of God.

He left us with any commands and in
John 14:15 Jesus says that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.

Now hold on to your seat, because the avalanch is coming...
(from the opposing side !)

 

[Danielw]

Hi
In the book of Matthew Jesus also says, "The worker is worth his keep".

I know that he is referring to his disciples spreading word of Jesus and he says that they don't need to bring anything with them when they go to peoples houses because the worker is worth their keep.

However in one of the first four books of the new testament, John the baptist says that whatever we do, we should do bearing good fruit, which basically means that whatever day job we have, we should do it in a good way. For example if I was a tax collector, then I should only take the appropriate amount of tax and not over the required amount, or if I was a professional wrestler then I should only beat my opponent up to the point where I can pin them and I shouldn't go overboard by bashing them with chairs, sledgehammers etc and ladders until they bleed.

There are also many verses in the books from Acts to Revelations which back this up saying that in whatever job we have we should we should do it in a good way.

I don't think that there would be an opposing side on this topic as I think all people regardless as to whether they are christian or not understand that to achieve anything in life you must work hard for it.

Dan W

 

[Eugene]

My understanding is that the new testament teaches we should do things but in everything we do we should do in a good way or as the new testament says to do things, "bearing good fruit".

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

Eph 6:5 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;
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

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:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

 

[reba]

We are to 'work'
to be good stewards
I believe that is in the 'natural' or 'physical '
and true in the Spiritual
Peter had to 'work' cast his net to the other side of the boat
many of the parables teach us to 'work'
2Th_3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
in the spiritual
Mat_26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

 

[GodsGrace]

Hi
In the book of Matthew Jesus also says, "The worker is worth his keep".

I know that he is referring to his disciples spreading word of Jesus and he says that they don't need to bring anything with them when they go to peoples houses because the worker is worth their keep.

However in one of the first four books of the new testament, John the baptist says that whatever we do, we should do bearing good fruit, which basically means that whatever day job we have, we should do it in a good way. For example if I was a tax collector, then I should only take the appropriate amount of tax and not over the required amount, or if I was a professional wrestler then I should only beat my opponent up to the point where I can pin them and I shouldn't go overboard by bashing them with chairs, sledgehammers etc and ladders until they bleed.

There are also many verses in the books from Acts to Revelations which back this up saying that in whatever job we have we should we should do it in a good way.

I don't think that there would be an opposing side on this topic as I think all people regardless as to whether they are christian or not understand that to achieve anything in life you must work hard for it.

Dan W

I agree.
I'm a mother and wife and sister and grandmother and sometimes life becomes overwhelming.
Sometimes I feel burned out.
But I find that if I remember that what I do, I do for God, the bad moments do pass.
We all work while here, in different ways.
It's good to have a healthy attitude toward work.

 

[Danielw]

The bible teaches that God has a plan for all of us, but there are some churches in the world like the one I went to where they exaggerate by saying that we don't have to do anything because God will do everything for us. I think this sends out the wrong message as people could misunderstand this and interpret it literally. I think when churches say this I think they mean that we shouldn't worry about things or that we don't need to win God's love because God has a plan for everyone and he already love everyone. I just wish churches would explain it in that way rather than in the general and vague sense.

 

[JohnDB]

I tend to think of it like when I had to work on the car one day.

My son 6yo at the time said, "Daddy, I know that you can fix the car all by yourself, but, can I help?"

That's the attitude I think that God appreciates.

 

[iLOVE]

For the Believer who operates in the spirit, Jesus says, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Everything this Believer does prospers.

For the Believer who operates and eats at the "tree of knowledge of good and evil", i.e., the flesh, i.e., do good - get good, everything dies.