There are many kinds of work. Sometimes it includes a salary. God ordained work as part of the process to atone for sin.

“The ground is cursed because of you.Through hard work you will eat {food that comes} from it every day of your life. The ground will grow thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat wild plants. By the sweat of your brow, you will produce food to eat until you return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and you will return to dust” (Genesis 3:17-19 God’s Word).

Everyone knows that a person who keeps busy with purposeful work keeps healthier, happier and remains less likely to have time to act maliciously against a neighbour.

Paul addressed this issue early on, because God knew work bears a necessary value to human beings. Busybodies shame Jesus, but bodies that are busy doing the mission Jesus calls us to shine as positive magnets to the work of Paraclete.

From our garden Aug. 2012

So God told Paul to write, “While we were with you, we gave you the order: ‘Whoever doesn’t want to work shouldn’t be allowed to eat’ “(2 Thessalonians 3:10 God’s Word).

Parenting, volunteering to help the community or its citizens, proclaiming the Good News about Jesus Christ with respect and love, prayer with meditation and fasting, hospitality, generosity, learning and reading with humility, supporting other disciples of Jesus, salaried labour, gardening, and on and on can be holy work fit to keep us close to our Saviour.

Some weeks ago I wrote in the margin of my work notes a prayer. I just came upon it again. May it bring a simple peace and desire in your work, as it did to mine.

“Thank You, God, for work, strength to do it, and sleep last night to do it again. Amen.”