“TO WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS” – THE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHIC

at October 14, 2025

The LORD is good and gracious. He showers upon us, the undeserving people, day upon day, His mercy and grace. He grants to us this morning, a brand new day to see, and to rejoice in it, with thanksgiving and praise.

Let us continue with our meditation on 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, and see, what more we can learn, for our lives.
– “11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Let us consider the following, “TO WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS” for this morning’s meditation. 
– The words of the Bible are plain and clear. 
– We are called to be grateful, alert, awake and enthusiastic about out life, and the work entrusted to us.
– We are called by God, to work with our own hands.
– We are to demonstrate our commitment, to being active, and not being idle and lazy.

What are the reasons for the LORD, to place such great significance on we working with our own hands, and to not be idle, and lazy? Why does God insist so much, on we working with our own hands?
– Work is considered is sacred for a Christian.
– There is no distinction of sacred and secular, for a Christian. 
– Everything is sacred, without any exception.
– Every thought, word and deed that proceeds from our lives, is considered an act of worship, to the LORD God Almighty, the One who created us, and has Redeemed us, with His own blood.
– Everything is sacred in the sight of God, therefore we are called to be diligent and productive, in our lives.

The Parable of Talents is a very fine example of how God views work, and how He regards our efforts about the same. It exemplifies the importance of human diligence, creativity and hard work, to produce results, with what is entrusted to us. The work that we do, and what we produce, and how God takes an account of it, as seen in the Parable, speaks about accountability in a Christian’s life, that God is so keenly interested in.

How are we working with what is entrusted to us? Do we divide our lives and the work, into sacred and secular spheres? Do we see the sacred work as God’s domain, where utmost integrity is required? While the secular work, as human domain, where we are “free” to do, whatever we like, and is convenient to us? Beware the Parable of Talents – God takes an account of our work. Hope we don’t have to stand before God, with our heads hanging in shame. 

Let us seek the LORD, to help us work hard, with intelligence and integrity, where the LORD is lifted up in worship, in and through all our works. This is “THE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHIC” that our LORD is expecting to see in us. Let us “WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS” for the glory of God, as an act of our worship to Him, who owns everything, including us. Even so, the LORD help us.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow.

– – Martin Luther