Scripture
Work hard and with gladness all the time, as though working for Christ, doing the will of God with all your hearts.
~Ephesians 6:7, TLB
Quote
It is the working man who is the happy man; it is the lazy who are miserable.
~Ben Franklin
Proverbs has a lot to say about laziness or slothfulness. As we mentioned a few days ago, God is a working God and Jesus was a working man. In the beginning, God created Adam from the dust of the earth. Dirt is dirty work and God got in the dirt, formed a ceramic man out of clay and then breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Jesus was born to peasant parents and his earthly father was a carpenter and Jesus learned the trade. Some relegate carpentry to working with wood but others think that the carpenters in Jesus day could work with wood or stone. Most houses were made of stone. I don’t know about that but I do know that Jesus worked as a carpenter until He was thirty years old. There is dignity in work. Work is not a curse, it has never been a curse. Adam was given a job as gardener of Eden. The curse was not work, the curse was weeds. Planting a garden and watching it grow is work but keeping the weeds out is hard work. The thing about weeds is they come back, again and again.
There is something satisfying and fulfilling about doing a hard days work. I don’t know what it is, can’t put my finger on it but it just feels good to be tired after a hard days work. When I was a kid, my affinity was to play not work. I could never understand my daddy because all he thought about was work. Hard work is therapeutic; it is a great stress reliever. I can’t jog, play basketball and I’m to intelligent to lift weights. The only weights I lift are a fork and spoon. BUT thank God I can still work. I’m not fast anymore: at one time I was known for my speed but that is a thing of the past. I do enjoy being a pastor and I do love to study and read but every now and then, I need a hard days work. For one thing, it makes me appreciate those who have to work hard every day.
My daddy and Ed Livingston had something is common: they judged a man by how hard he worked and they didn’t have a lot of good to say about lazy folks. I know a few more just like them but I am not going to call names. I will say this: I have no respect for the mobs that riot, loot, and destroy and I have no respect for the Mayors and Governors who have basically invited them to do it. I have great respect for those who work.
Another good weekend. I did get a little carried away and told two too many stories yesterday. Hannah and I went to see my sister last night. She is very weak, she can talk but not much. She can get up with help. It was good to see her and I’m glad she is out of the hospital. Jean Smith did get moved to rehab. Big Mike and Sheryl were at church yesterday and I am thankful. God is good and I praise Him. They will take Phillip on the vent today. They have called all the family in to be in the room. This means they hope his family will have a few minutes with him. It would be a miracle if he makes it: I praying for the miracle. Phillip was the best man in our wedding almost 50 years ago.