Honorable Work

1. Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12

2. About the Text:

1) Tomorrow is Labor Day.

2) It is a day that was originally set aside to honor workers.

3. The Bible discusses honorable work.

1) The passage we have just read, as well as others, instructs us to work.

2) The Bible also gives us several reasons to work; let’s notice a few.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. God made work and expects man to work.

1) “Six days you shall labor and do all your work” (Exodus 20:9).

2) “Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:12).

2. Labor is contrasted with laziness and idleness.

1) “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich” (Proverbs 13:4).

2) “In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23).

3. When one doesn’t work, certain consequences follow.

1) “The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor” (Proverbs 21:25).

2) “The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing” (Proverbs 20:4).

1. Self

1) “The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on” (Proverbs 16:26).

2) “When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:2).

3) “For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,’” and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages’” (1 Timothy 5:18).

2. Others

1) “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8).

2) “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Ephesians 4:28).

1. When we are busy working, we will be doing what we are supposed to do.

2. “that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (1 Thess.4:11-12).

3. “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread” (2 Thess.3:10-12).

1. “At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did” (Acts 9:36).

2. “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35).

3. “The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy man will be put to forced labor” (12:24).

4. “The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin” (Proverbs 10:16).

5. “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).

1. Honorable Work . . .

1) Prevents Laziness

2) Provides for the Needs of Others

3) Protects from Accusation

4) Produces Good Works

2. Invitation