WORK, WELFARE AND STEWARDSHIP, WHAT’S THE CONNECTION???
Don’t you just love the way God has decided to distribute His money to us stewards? When you stop to think about it you realize just how clever, unique, interesting, complex, and intriguing it is. The money he has allotted to each of us for wise use to accomplish His objectives (management) is determined in large measure by our work. Although there are some similarities, the work each one of us does is different but the product is the same, money. I was quite surprised to learn just how much the Bible has to say about work. The context often tells us what kind of job is being accomplished but the subject of work is usually treated in rather general terms. Those few verses we looked at a few weeks ago identified some interesting characteristics. Here’s my list; how does it compare with yours?
- God surely set the pace. He did a really big job. He worked hard. He completed His work. He got tired.
- The Bible identifies some specific jobs God did such as engraving the tablets with the Ten Commandments.
- God worked on behalf of selected groups of people.
- God’s work was great and perfect.
- Jesus worked. He performed God’s work.
- King Solomon worked – on God’s behalf.
- Joseph worked.
- Noah worked, following God’s exact instructions.
- The Israelites worked and their employer was unfair in setting their quotas.
- The sons of Israel worked, taking instruction from God through Moses.
- Ruth (a woman) worked. She worked with a man.
- Excellent wives work. These excellent wives are said to be more precious than jewels, trusted by their husbands, married to prosperous husbands, and said to do good for their husbands.
- God is supportive of those He instructs to work.
- Working with our hands is more excellent than loving one another. That’s how I read this verse. How did you interpret it?
- Paul commanded believers to work.
- Paul worked night and day so he wouldn’t be a burden and to set a good example.
- Paul’s order to the believers was to work and if you did not work you were not to eat.
How have these verses influenced your attitude toward work? Clearly, work is a Biblical concept but the Bible doesn’t leave it at that. The Bible gives some really good additional reasons to work. Here are a few that I found from the verses we looked at: money (one of my favorite reasons), wages, recompense, reward, remuneration, food, provision for family, evangelism tool, called by God, God’s support and encouragement, appreciation, esteem, recognition of kings and last but certainly not least, so we will have something to share with those in need (more about this one later).
From the passages we have studied so far, I am going to conclude that work is good and definitely approved by God. Does it follow then that if work is good, the more work we do the better? There was a period of time during my life when I was a workaholic. I worked seven days a week, 14-15 hours a day. I did that for ten years and loved every minute. Then I received Christ as my personal savior; I got saved and learned that God didn’t endorse that kind of work schedule. God was not a workaholic. He got His work done and then He rested. I’m struggling a little with that thought because if He rested, it must mean that He got tired. It’s just hard for me to imagine God getting tired. The term “Sabbath” is also used in the Bible as a reason for not working on the seventh day of the week. It is a more inclusive term that takes into account both rest and worship. The Bible also identifies several other reasons for not working: if it provokes God to anger, if it leads to corruption and/or evil, if it is contrary to God’s command(s), if it is the work of one who has fallen away, and if it results in the creation of idols. This last one is a little convicting. Have you got any idols at your house that you worked really hard to acquire??
Then there’s that passage in John that says we shouldn’t work for food that perishes but for food that endures to eternal life. Does that mean canned and frozen food or maybe dehydrated? Even canned, frozen, and dehydrated food has a finite shelf life. No, that’s not it. Jesus is using the occasion of the feeding of the 5000 to teach them that there is a higher priority than satisfying their physical hunger. He is telling them to pursue or work for “food” that is eternal rather than the pleasures of the world which are only temporary. And He tells them that this work is the work of God. He further defines the work of God as believing the gospel.
Another work-related issue we need to deal with is Luke 13:10-17 where Jesus works on the Sabbath. It says the synagogue official was indignant and reminded Jesus that there are six days every week when He could heal somebody so why not just do it on one of those days. Jesus didn’t seem to like this response very much and pointed out that the official and everybody listening (or maybe just the other synagogue officials) also did work on the Sabbath. In any event it says His opponents were humiliated and the “multitude was rejoicing over the glorious things being done by Him”. So, I guess it’s OK to work on Sunday (if the work is as worthy as that done by Jesus on this occasion, that is, if it brings glory to God). Does your Sunday work meet this test? Mine usually doesn’t.
I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, “My job sucks, how about yours”. I’ve read a number of things over the years that say most people don’t like their jobs. That surely wouldn’t include any believers would it; especially if they also believe that God is sovereign? The Bible doesn’t really have much (if anything?) to say about whether one might like or dislike one’s job. The Bible does however have quite a bit so say about how we should do our work (like it or not): diligently, not negligently, not as a slacker or sluggard, seeking God’s approval, without talking, quietly, honestly, with fear and trembling, without grumbling or disputing, obediently, heartily, in anticipation of a reward, excellently, in a disciplined way, with great effort, tirelessly, with high quality and until evening (no workaholism allowed). So, how do you measure up? Are you convicted at all? I doubt that very many of you consider yourselves to be evangelists but the way in which you do your work speaks volumes about who you are and what you stand for. The Phil 2:12-16 passage was really an eye-opener for me.
Different kinds of work are of course remunerated differently. Put another way, some jobs pay more than others. That’s always been true and it’s documented in the Bible. The result is that there are some people we call rich (have lots of money) and some we call poor (don’t have much money). Aside from the fact that some jobs pay more than others, the Bible explains how some people become poor. They love pleasure and wine. They make hasty, spur of the moment decisions without sound planning. They talk too much and don’t do their work. They are undisciplined. They are slackers. They are drunks, gluttons and just plain lazy. They love to sleep. They favor the rich and oppress the poor. They pursue empty goals. And, last but not least, God decides that some will be poor and some will be rich. See 1 Sam 2:7 and Prov 22:2.
The Bible doesn’t define how much money you don’t have to have to be identified as poor (living in poverty). However, the US Government does have a definition. The US Government labels one person families with incomes less than $9800 a year as poor. There’s a sliding scale and for a family of five, income of less than $23,400 (for each additional person add $3400) per year places them in “poverty”. These are 2006 data. In 2004 there were 37 million people living in families below the poverty line as defined above. The “war on poverty” (man’s solution) cost $7 Trillion and we lost the war. Everything I read on this subject reports this as a GROWING problem.
God is certainly aware of the fact that there are some poor people but how does He feel about them. What is God’s attitude toward the poor? He has compassion for them. There blood is precious to Him. He will rescue them from oppressors. He will deliver them/save them from the strong and from those who would rob them. He will support them, give them justice, maintain their cause, not forget them, provide refuge for them, hear their cry, and give them grace (unmerited favor). He will judge them with fairness. He will not forsake them. He will remove those who do not help the poor. He exalts them. Without a doubt, God has a soft spot in His heart for the poor (and the afflicted). That’s in contrast to the world. The world hates and mocks the poor. The rich rule over the poor.
Given God’s attitude toward the poor, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised to see that He has some instruction for how we should treat them. We should leave some of our crop in the field for them to glean. We should sustain them – bring them into our homes to live with us. We should lend generously to them and should not charge usurious interest. We shouldn’t treat them as slaves. We should freely open our hand to them. We should not oppress them. We should pay them at the end of the day for any work they have done. We should be gracious to them and listen to them and give them food. We should judge them fairly and not be partial to them. We should sell our stuff and give to them as they have need (and we better not lie about the sale or the gift like A & S did in Acts 5). We are to take care of them and help them and preach the gospel to them.
I mentioned earlier that God has a solution to this problem of poverty. However, the more I think about this the more I am realizing that God doesn’t seem to treat poverty as a “problem”. He has said that there will always be poor people (just a fact of life), and He has told us how He feels about poor people, and He has told us how we should treat them. Perhaps the politicians should consider a change in policy and direction. On the other hand, if we did what God has instructed us to do maybe the politicians wouldn’t see it as a problem. In any event, God has provided what the government programs are designed to do but have never achieved success. God has provided a “safety net” (for His own/believers). You remember the story about Abraham and how the Lord provided don’t you? Math 6:23-34 tells us not to worry, that God will provide for our (those who seek first His kingdom) needs. Ps 37:25 says “….I have not seen the righteous forsaken, …”. Heb 13:5-6 reports “…I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you, …”. Phil 4:19 tells us “And my God shall supply all your needs……”. Need I say more?
In case you aren’t yet convicted about how we treat poor people, let’s take a look at what the Lord says about widows and orphans. Yikes! Basically, all we have learned about the poor applies to widows and orphans but here’s the clincher. James 1:26-27 “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, …..”. In case you haven’t gotten the message yet, here’s what the Lord says about mistreatment of widows and orphans. Ex22:20-24 says if you afflict any widow or orphan and they cry out to God, He will kill you. Isa 10:1-2 says woe to those who treat widows unfairly. Deut 27:19 says the one who distorts justice due widows and orphans is cursed. Luke 20:45-21:4 says that those who treat widows poorly will receive greater condemnation. Job 22:9-11 says that if you treat widows and orphans poorly, snares will surround you and sudden death or darkness will terrify you and an abundance of water will cover you. Needless to say, the Lord is concerned about the well being of widows and orphans.
Now, the interesting thing is that the Bible says there are widows and then there are widows. My NASB and the KJV refer to them as “widows indeed”. The NIV and NKJV refer to them as widows who are really widows. The RSV calls them real widows and the LB calls them women whose husbands have died and don’t have anyone else to help them. These “widows indeed” are those who qualify for special care from the church (body of believers).
Thankfully, the Bible lists the qualifications required for care from the church. Here they are: 1)one who is alone, 2) one whose hope is fixed on God, 3)one who prays night and day, 4)one who is not given to wanton pleasure, 5)not less than 60 years old, 6) has been the wife of only one man, 7)who has a reputation for good works, 8) who has brought up children, 9) has shown hospitality to strangers, 10) washed the saints’ feet, 11) assisted those in distress, and finally 12) one who has devoted herself to every good work. WOW! That’s quite a list. My mom definitely did not qualify for special care from the church when my dad died. She was way too young and she was not alone. That’s not to say the Lord prohibits us from helping (unqualified) widows. I remember some men from the local body of believers coming and putting the finishing touches on the house my dad was in the process of building (and we were living in) when he died.
The Bible gives specific instructions to young (under 60 years old) widows. The instruction hinges on their self control. If they have self control, Paul says they may remain unmarried. I believe my mother fell into this category. However, if the young widows do not have self control Paul says let them marry because it is better to marry than to burn (experience sensual desires, etc. listed in 1 Tim 5:11-15). They are to marry, bear children and keep house so as to give the enemy no occasion for reproach.
Finally, the church is not obligated to care for widows who are not alone. My NASB says “If any woman (some translations include men and other family members) who is a believer has dependent widows in her family, let her assist them, and let not the church be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.” My mom had both parents still living as well as two sisters and three brothers. I don’t know how much help they actually provided but they provided some and they were “there” for her. One sister did come to live with us and was part of our family till she retired and moved to an assisted care facility.
OK you stewards, how does your management of God’s resources reflect His wishes? What would a performance appraisal of your work reveal? What changes might be suggested? Do your management plans and practices take into account the poor, the afflicted, the widow, the orphan? This stewardship business touches a lot of issues and there’s more to come. The issue most of us think about when we hear the term “stewardship” is giving. However, over the next several weeks, I want us to consider this issue from a little different point of view, one that I think makes more sense. Are you ready to go again?
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Phil 2:12-16 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. NASB
1 Sam 2:7 “The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. NASB
Prov 22:2 The rich and the poor have a common bond, The Lord is the maker of them all. NASB
Acts 4:32-5:6 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own; but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. 34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales, 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet; and they would be distributed to each, as any had need. 36 And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means, Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 5 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 And the young men arose and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. NASB
Matt 6:23-34 “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? 26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 “And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span? 28 “And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. 30 “But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? 31 “Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ 32 “For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. NASB
Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now I am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Or his descendants begging bread. NASB
Heb 13:5-6 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?” NASB
Phil 4:19-20 And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. NASB
James 1:27 This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. NASB
Ex 22:20-26 “He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed. 21 And you shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. 23 If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless. 25 “If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest. NASB
Isa 10:1-2 Woe to those who enact evil statutes, And to those who constantly record unjust decisions, 2 So as to deprive the needy of justice, And rob the poor of My people of their rights, In order that widows may be their spoil, And that they may plunder the orphans. NASB
Deut 27:19 ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow.’ And all the people shall say,’ Amen.’ NASB
Luke 20:45-21:4 And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, 47 who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation. ” 21 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. 3 And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; 4 for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on. ” NASB
Job 22:9-11 “You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed. 10 “Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies you, 11 Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you. NASB
1 Tim 5:11-15 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13 And at the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. 14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. NASB