Work to give

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 4v28

Why do we work? There are all kinds of answers to that question aren’t there? For some it is literally to put food on the table. For most of us it is simply a matter of paying the bills. We may be fortunate to be able to buy a few extras and a few nice things to make life for comfortable. Some may go beyond that and work to buy more “stuff” and have bigger and better. Then there are some who are obsessed with possessions and work to buy more just so they can have more. Some work as an escape from home, to get away from the pressures of family for a few hours. Some work for the craic (good time, enjoyment) that comes with being with workmates. Some are even workaholics and just work because they feel that they must.

We all know that the jobs that God gives us are our own ministry. Whether we hammer nails, clan toilets, stock shelves, teach, preach, work in an office, manage a shop, or whatever our job is the place where we serve the Lord. That job is our pulpit where we can serve Him by loving others and seeking to share Him with our co-workers.

Yet here Paul gives us another reason to work. “…let him labour, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has a need.” One of the reasons we have to work is so that we can help others when they have a need. I hate to say that though I have done a little of this, it has not been a priority for my resources.

How many of us can honestly say that we work in order to give?