The Blessing of Diligence

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” ~ Ecc. 9:10 God’s Word has a lot to say about diligence. Recently, I took some time to consider what the Proverbs teach us about this…

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The Forgotten Way We Glorify God in Our Work

“How do I glorify God when my work is mundane and meaningless?” A Renewed Focus Over the past few years, there has been a renewed focus in many churches on the importance of developing and teaching a theology of work. This emphasis on vocation has been long overdue. According to one study, the average person…

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Doing God’s Work Together

Titus 3:12-15 At the risk of over-stereotyping, please allow me to suggest that typical Midwestern Americans (and Americans in general) tend to function in an individualistic way. We keep to ourselves, rely on ourselves, and interact with other people to a limited degree. This individualistic lifestyle contrasts with the more social, relational, and community-oriented lifestyle…

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Help Wanted

Right after graduating from college I enrolled in seminary to pursue a master’s degree. At the time I also became engaged to the young lady I would marry. I needed an increase in income to match my increasing financial obligations, so I applied for a job at a textile mill not far from my school.…

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Help Wanted – the vanishing work ethic

Right after graduating from college I enrolled in seminary to pursue a master’s degree.  At the time I also became engaged to the young lady I would marry.  I needed an increase in income to match my increasing financial obligations, so I applied for a job at a textile mill not far from my school. …

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Working with Christ in Mind

Our jobs and careers are a major part of our lives. In 2019, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics conducted an American Time Use Survey. It found that employed Americans spend significantly more time per week working than in any other activity besides sleep. If you’re employed, I don’t need to tell you this since…

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The Puritan Work Ethic and the Cause of Christ

I struggle sometimes to get a lot from the Puritans. They wrote centuries ago when the English language was very different than from how we speak and write today. But that doesn’t I mean I don’t enjoy a good Puritan quote! And the Puritans had a lot to say about work. The Puritans had a…

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An Offering of Ants

This Labor Day, as we honor labor and recognize the contributions of workers by taking the day off, it’s to our benefit to recognize Solomon’s humble object lesson of hard work: the ant. Whether you’re busy as a bee, eager as a beaver, or poor as a church mouse … could an ant ameliorate us?…

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Labor and Its Rewards

Norman Pyle “WORK” is a four-letter word which — unlike some less respectable four-letter words — seems to be falling into disrepute. In spite of the fact that individual enterprise and the will to work made America great, nowadays most folks want to work as little as possible.

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Labor Day plus One

John Mincy I always have mixed emotions about Labor Day. One side of me feels bad about observing a day set aside historically by and for the unions. On the other hand, it comes at a great time of year and reminds Christians of the origin and dignity of work. Work has been a part…

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