Trabalho
O trabalho é uma ordenança divina desde a criação. Deus colocou o homem no jardim para cultivar e guardar, revelando que o labor é parte do propósito humano e um meio de glorificá-lo.
Trabalho como vocação divina
Deus nos criou para trabalhar com propósito. O trabalho é expressão da imagem divina em nós e deve ser feito como para o Senhor.
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve.
Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
rendering service with goodwill, as to the Lord, and not [only] to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether [he is] slave or free.
So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].
Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].
Diligência e recompensa
A mão diligente enriquece, mas a preguiça traz pobreza. A Bíblia valoriza o esforço honesto, dedicado e perseverante em toda obra.
Poor is he who works with a negligent and idle hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes him rich.
The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.
The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor.
In all labor there is profit,
But mere talk leads only to poverty.
Go to the ant, O lazy one;
Observe her ways and be wise, [Job 12:7]
Which, having no chief,
Overseer or ruler,
She prepares her food in the summer
And brings in her provisions [of food for the winter] in the harvest.
How long will you lie down, O lazy one?
When will you arise from your sleep [and learn self-discipline]? [Prov 24:33, 34]
"Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to lie down and rest"—
So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks [slowly, but surely]
And your need [will come] like an armed man [making you helpless]. [Prov 10:4; 13:4; 20:4]
He who is careless in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.
Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.
Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].
The blessing of the Lord brings [true] riches,
And He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God].
Planejamento e excelência
A excelência no trabalho honra a Deus. Devemos nos dedicar com competência, entregar nossos planos ao Senhor e buscar o melhor em cada tarefa.
Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him],
And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].
Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him],
And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].
Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work?
He will stand [in honor] before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.
Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going.
Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness],
O contentamento no trabalho
Deus nos dá a capacidade de desfrutar do nosso trabalho. Poder comer, beber e encontrar satisfação em nosso labor é um dom divino.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good as long as they live; and also that every man should eat and drink and see and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
Behold, here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in all the labor in which he labors under the sun during the few days of his life which God gives him—for this is his [allotted] reward. [1 Tim 6:17]
Also, every man to whom God has given riches and possessions, He has also given the power and ability to enjoy them and to receive [this as] his [allotted] portion and to rejoice in his labor—this is the gift of God [to him].
Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor;
There was a certain man—without a dependent, having neither a child nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, "For whom do I labor and deprive myself of pleasure?" This too is vanity (a wisp of smoke, self-conceit); yes, it is a painful effort and an unhappy task. [Prov 27:20; 1 John 2:16]
I have seen that every [effort in] labor and every skill in work comes from man’s rivalry with his neighbor. This too is vanity (futility, false pride) and chasing after the wind.
A responsabilidade cristã
O cristão deve trabalhar com suas próprias mãos, viver dignamente e ser exemplo de dedicação. Quem não trabalha, não coma.
For even while 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. Indeed, we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined and inappropriate life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies [meddling in other people’s business]. Now such people we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work quietly and earn their own food and other necessities [supporting themselves instead of depending on the hospitality of others].
and to make it your ambition to live quietly and peacefully, and to mind your own affairs and work with your hands, just as we directed you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders [exhibiting good character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of the respect of the outside world], and be dependent on no one and in need of nothing [be self-supporting].
The thief [who has become a believer] must no longer steal, but instead he must work hard [making an honest living], producing that which is good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with those in need.
And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.
So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labors, just as God rested from [those labors uniquely] His own. [Gen 2:2]
And let the [gracious] favor of the Lord our God be on us;
Confirm for us the work of our hands—
Yes, confirm the work of our hands.
Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
Now who is there to hurt you if you become enthusiastic for what is good?
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father.
But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].
Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward [when He grants rewards to faithful believers].