We have been programmed by our culture to think of work as performing certain tasks in our own strength and power for some person or organization, in order to earn money to buy food. We also think that more activity is the same as hard work. In the spiritual sense, people often think of good works as something they do to earn God’s favor. Then there are those who would like to work in order to earn an income for their families right now, but they are unable to find employment due to the dire economic situation. But what does the Lord say about work?First, we'll see what the Scriptures teach us and then we'll draw some conclusions, followed by several applications for our own lives today. Finally, I'll leave you with some questions for mediation at the end.
The food that Jesus ate was accomplishing the Heavenly Father’s work and doing His will:
- Jesus *said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. (Joh 4:34)
- "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. (Joh 17:4)
Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing:
- Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. (Joh 5:19)
- "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. (Joh 5:21)
The Father gave Jesus works to accomplish, and these were the works He did: "But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish--the very works that I do--testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me. (Joh 5:36)
It was in the Father’s name that Jesus did the works He did: Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. (Joh 10:25)
Jesus didn’t even speak on His own initiative, but the Father was doing His works in Jesus: "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. (Joh 14:10)
John the Baptist heard of the works of Christ, which included making the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the gospel to the poor:
- Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples (Mat 11:2)
- Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. (Mat 11:4-5)
Jesus appeared to destroy the sinful works of the devil: the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. (1Jo 3:8)
We must look at all the work to be done for the Lord in the harvest field: "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. (Joh 4:35)
The work of reaping had begun while Jesus was on earth, and this meant gathering fruit:
"Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. (Joh 4:36)
For some the Lord’s work is sowing seeds and for others the work is reaping fruit: "For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.' (Joh 4:37)
Sometimes we work to reap what others have labored for: "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor." (Joh 4:38)
Sometimes we work to water what others have planted, and we will be rewarded for our labor in bringing about a harvest: Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (1Co 3:8)
We are not to work for the perishable food of this earth, but rather for the food that Jesus gives, which lasts forever: "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." (Joh 6:27)
The food that Jesus gives is Himself, the true Bread from heaven:
Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." (Joh 6:32-33)
People equate working God’s works with something they must do, as though they could generate these acts on their own: Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" (Joh 6:28)
Jesus said God’s work is carried out when we believe (trust) in Jesus: Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." (Joh 6:29)
If we believe in Jesus, we will do the works He did and even greater works, and it will be Him doing it in us: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. (Joh 14:12-14)
When the gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested in us, they have different effects, but it’s all the work of God in us: "There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills." (1Co 12:6-11)
Jesus was asked what work or task he could perform for them: So they said to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? (Joh 6:30)
Jesus said we must urgently labor to do the acts of the Father before it is too late: "We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. (Joh 9:4)
Jesus sent out laborers in pairs to cities: Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. (Luk 10:1)
The laborers are few, so we must beseech the Lord to send out laborers into the harvest: And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luk 10:2)
After following Jesus for 3 ½ years, learning how to fish for men, once Jesus had died and risen from the dead, Peter decided to go fishing for earthly food: Simon Peter *said to them, "I am going fishing." They *said to him, "We will also come with you." They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing. (Joh 21:3)
Even in the routine work of fishing, which Peter was skilled at, the disciples learned they needed to obey the Lord in order to be successful: "And He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.' So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish." (Joh 21:6)
The Lord had called Saul and Barnabas to a specific work for which they needed to be set apart by the church: While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Act 13:2)
The church commended Paul and his team to the grace of God for the work He gave them to accomplish: From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. (Act 14:26)
Paul refused to take John Mark with him after Mark’s desertion and refusal to go with them to the work: But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. (Act 15:38)
God causes all things to work together for good for those that love Him: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom 8:28)
The faith and lives of other believers is considered the work of God:
- Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. (Rom 14:20)
- Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? (1Co 9:1)
- My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you-- (Gal 4:19)
- Birthing labor is painful: "Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. (Joh 16:21)
Some of our work will be burned up in the fire, but we will be rewarded for our works that survive the fiery test:
- If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. (1Co 3:14)
- If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1Co 3:15)
Paul and Timothy were doing the Lord’s work: Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without cause to be afraid, for he is doing the Lord's work, as I also am. (1Co 16:10)
The apostle saw his life on earth as a period of fruitful labor: But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. (Phi 1:22)
The apostle Paul’s labor proclaiming Jesus, as well as admonishing and teaching believers required striving according to the power of God that worked in Him:
- We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. (Col 1:28-29)
- For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. (1Ti 4:10)
- I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2Co 11:27)
- For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. (1Th 2:9)
- nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; (2Th 3:8)
Each person must examine his own work: But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. (Gal 6:4)
The saints must be equipped for the work of service: for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; (Eph 4:12)
God has begun a good work in those of us who believe in Jesus: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phi 1:6)
We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling: 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; (Phi 2:12)
God is at work in us who believe to work for His good pleasure: for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Phi 2:13)
Our works can never justify us:
- Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. (Rom 3:27-28)
- But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. (Rom 11:6)
- nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. (Gal 2:16)
- For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:8-9)
- who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (2Ti 1:9)
- We should not try to work for our salvation but trust the Lord Jesus to justify us: But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, (Rom 4:5)
The people of Israel in days of Old pursued righteousness by the works of the law rather than by faith: but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, (Rom 9:31-32)
True saving faith is made visible to others by our good works. Otherwise it is not saving faith at all, but dead faith:
- What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? (Jam 2:14)
- Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. (Jam 2:17)
- But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (Jam 2:20)
- For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (Jam 2:26)
- This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? (Gal 3:2)
- So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? (Gal 3:5)
It pleases God when we bear fruit in every good work we do for Him: so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Col 1:10)
We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God has already prepared in advance for us to do: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Eph 2:10)
We should live so people see the good works we do: "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Mat 5:16)
Rich believers should seek to be rich in good works: "Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share." (1Ti 6:18)
Our work is a work of faith and our labor is a labor or love: "constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father..." (1Th 1:3)
The word of God performs its work in all who believe: "For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe." (1Th 2:13)
Believers are instructed to lead a quiet life and work with our hands: and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, (1Th 4:11)
Every believer must labor in some way, performing what is good: He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. (Eph 4:28)
Paul taught that if a man is not willing to work, he should not eat: For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. (2Th 3:10)
Paul commanded those who were known to be undisciplined and did not work at all to work quietly and earn the bread they ate:
- For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. (2Th 3:11)
- Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. (2Th 3:12)
Elders are to be highly esteemed because of their work: and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. (1Th 5:13)
God is the one who fulfills with His power our every desire to do the work of faith: To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, (2Th 1:11)
By His own power working in us, God is able to do His works: Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, (Eph 3:20)
In every good work we do, we need to be strengthened and comforted in our hearts:
comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. (2Th 2:17)
Being an overseer is a valuable and virtuous work that some men desire to do: It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. (1Ti 3:1)
Should have a reputation for good works and be devoted to every good work: having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. (1Ti 5:10)
Elders who work hard at preaching and teaching are worthy of twice the honor as those who do not: The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. (1Ti 5:17)
Every good work a man of God does requires that he first be equipped for it:
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. (2Ti 2:21)
- so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2Ti 3:17)
God does not forget our work in ministering to the saints: For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. (Heb 6:10)
The Holy Spirit does a sanctifying work within the believer: according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. (1Pe 1:2)
The Father in heaven judges according to each person’s work: If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; (1Pe 1:17)
It’s a waste of time to build a house if the Lord is not building it: Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. (Psa 127:1)
We should repent of the works of our own hands: The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.
(Rev 9:20-21)
The works of the Lord God are marvelous! And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! (Rev 15:3)
Conclusions:
- The food that Jesus ate was to accomplish the Heavenly Father’s work and doing His will
- The heavenly Father is always working, and Jesus was working on the Sabbath when he healed the man who had been lame for 38 years
- The Father showed Jesus all that He Himself was doing, and Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing.
- The Father gave Jesus works to accomplish, and these were the works He did
Jesus didn’t even speak on His own initiative, but the Father was the One doing His works in Jesus - It was in the Father’s name that Jesus did the works He did
- John the Baptist heard of the works of Christ, which included making the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the gospel to the poor
- The reason the blind man was born that way was so that the works of God might be displayed when he received his sight
- The Father is always at work around us. We need to watch as God shows us what He is doing, and then do what He is doing.
- We are not to work for the perishable food of this earth, but rather for the food that Jesus gives, which lasts forever
- The food that Jesus gives is Himself, the true Bread from heaven
- We must look at all the work to be done for the Lord in the harvest field, because there is an immediate and urgent need
- The work of reaping had begun while Jesus was on earth, and this meant gathering fruit.
- Jesus sent out laborers in pairs to cities
- The laborers are few, so we must beseech the Lord to send out laborers into the harvest
For some the Lord’s work is planting seeds and for others the work is reaping fruit - Sometimes we work to reap what others have labored for
- Sometimes we work to water what others have planted, and we will be rewarded for our labor in bringing about a harvest
- People equate working God’s works with something they must do, as though they could generate these acts on their own
- Jesus said God’s work is carried out when we believe (trust) in Jesus
- If we believe in Jesus, we will do the works He did and even greater works, and it will be Him doing it in us
- When the gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested in us, they have different effects, but it’s all the work of God in us
- Jesus said we must urgently labor to do the acts of the Father before it is too late
- The disciples learned that if they would be successful even in routine daily work that they were already skilled at, they must listen to the Lord's voice and obey Him.
- The Lord had called Saul and Barnabas to a specific work for which they needed to be set apart by the church
- The church commended Paul and his team to the grace of God for the work He gave them to accomplish
- Paul refused to take John Mark with him after Mark’s desertion and refusal to go with them to the work
- We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling
- God is at work in us who believe to work for His good pleasure
- Our works can never justify us, so Never Trust in Your Own Good Works.
- We should not try to work for our salvation but trust the Lord Jesus to justify us
- The Jews pursued righteousness by the works of the law rather than by faith
- True saving faith is made visible to others by our good work. Otherwise it is not saving faith at all, but dead faith
- We do not receive the Holy Spirit by works but by faith
- God causes all things to work together for good for those that love Him
- The faith and lives of other believers is considered the work of God
- The real work we do here on earth will one day be revealed and its quality tested by fire
- Some of our work will be burned up in the fire, but we will be rewarded for our works that survive the fiery test
- Since we know our toil in the Lord is not in vain, we should always abound in the Lord’s work
- Paul and Timothy were doing the Lord’s work
- The apostle Paul’s labor proclaiming Jesus, as well as admonishing and teaching believers required striving according to the power of God that worked in Him
- The apostle saw his life on earth as a period of fruitful labor
- The apostle Paul saw his work of making disciples much like a woman in labor giving birth to a child, and we know the labor of giving birth is difficult and painful
- Paul’s labor was often accompanied by hardships, even working night and day
- Paul instructed believers to submit to everyone who helps in the Lord’s work
- Each person must examine his own work
- The saints must be equipped for the work of service. That's us, the members of Christ's Body.
- God has begun a good work in those of us who believe in Jesus
- Epaphroditus nearly died for the work of Christ
- We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God has already prepared in advance for us to do
- It pleases God when we bear fruit in every good work we do for Him
- We should live so people see the good works we do
- We must do our work with all our might since it is for the Lord we are doing it
- Our work is a work of faith and our labor is a labor or love
- The word of God performs its work in all who believe
- Elders are to be highly esteemed because of their work
- God is the one who fulfills with His power our every desire to do the work of faith
- By His own power working in us, God is able to do His works
- In every good work we do, we need to be strengthened and comforted in our hearts
- Believers are instructed to lead a quiet life and work with our hands
- Every believer must labor in some way, performing what is good
- Paul taught that if a man is not willing to work, he should not eat
- Paul commanded those who were known to be undisciplined and did not work at all to work quietly and earn the bread they ate
- Being an overseer is a valuable and virtuous work that some men desire to do
- We should have a reputation for good works and be devoted to every good work
- Elders who work hard at preaching and teaching are worthy of twice the honor as those who do not
- Every good work a man of God does requires that he first be equipped for it
- Timothy was instructed by Paul to do the work of an evangelist
- God does not forget our work in ministering to the saints
- The Holy Spirit does a sanctifying work within the believer
- The Father in heaven judges according to each person’s work
- We should all repent from the works of our own hands, and praise God for His marvelous works.
Application:
- So while some people are devoted entirely to the work of an overseer, and they are worthy of their wages for doing so, there are others who work with their hands so that they might have something to share with others. And then there are those who do both the work of an overseer and "work with their hands."
- Whatever our role, all of us should do our work unto the Lord; since it’s ultimately Him we are serving in all things we do.
- Our Source of power must come from the Lord within us, not from ourselves.
- Just as Jesus, we should not speak on our own initiative, but rather let the Father who abides in us work His works within us.
- All that we do should be in the Lord’s name.
- If we believe in Him, we’ll do even greater works than Jesus did.
- What does the term “labor of love” mean?
- What does the term “work of faith” mean?
- If believing in Jesus is the work of God and our work is a work of faith, how should this affect the way we serve the Lord?
- If our works cannot justify us, then why should we work?
- If the Lord considers it honorable for elders to work hard at preaching and teaching, what are the implications for elders today?
- If we must be equipped to do good works, what are the implications for those who equip others?
- Since Jesus could do nothing but what He saw the Father doing, what are the implications for you doing anything the Lord is not doing?
- Since it is a waste of time to build unless the Lord is building, what are the implications of this for building the church or establishing a new church?
- What would we do differently if we knew that some of the works we are currently doing for the Lord would be burned up in the fire?
- Is the Lord looking for more activity or more fruit in our labor?
- Since the Father is always at work around you, and wants to show you what He is doing, and since you can do nothing without Him but only do what He is doing, what are the implications for anything you do?
Author's Note: Please visit the Home page of this blog, as well as my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master."
Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus. Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?
“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15). He preached that we must repent and believe.
Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"
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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International. He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.
