DAY 13 - Work

Wealth gained by vanity shall be diminished: but he who gathers by labor shall INCREASE.— Proverbs 13:11

Work is an obvious avenue of increase that originated as God’s idea. Notice His perspective on this subject in the following verse:

PROVERBS 14:23 - In all labor there is gain [literally increase]: but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.

The Bible shows us that consistent labor is an important virtue. Work is an extremely significant principle that leads to increase.

In First and Second Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul encourages Christians three times to get to work (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:10,12). According to these verses, everyone should work. (I’m speaking particularly to men who are the heads of their families, but every member of the family has responsibilities that require his or her labor to fulfill.)

The Bible even says that if a person doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat (2 Thess. 3:10). First Timothy 5:8 also says that a person who doesn’t work denies the faith and is worse than an infidel. A person is to work to provide for his own, especially those in his own family.

The Blessing of Labor

Work is a blessing from God. Many people don’t realize it, but honest labor has been God’s idea from the beginning. For example, God gave Adam work to do before He gave him a wife (Gen. 2:19,20).

Work blesses man’s soul in every area. The children of a man who has been on unemployment for two years will testify that the family is happier when Dad has a job. The man’s wife will testify to the deteriorating changes in her husband’s sense of self-value, self-worth, and self-esteem — changes

that adversely affect the entire family.  A man is happy (which is an emotion of the soul) when he enjoys the fruit of his labor. Psalm 128:2 says, “You will eat the fruit of your labor: Blessings and prosperity will be yours.”

It is not well with a person when he is depressed and getting out of shape because of lack of work. The truth is, labor helps keep a man fit and happy. It gives him dignity, honor, and self-respect so he can enjoy life with a healthy soul and a healthy body.

So if you don’t have a job, make every effort to get one. Obtaining a good job can solve many problems in your home.