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, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Let all that you do be done in love.
Diligência e recompensa
A mão diligente enriquece, mas a preguiça traz pobreza. A Bíblia valoriza o esforço honesto, dedicado e perseverante em toda obra.
A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
Whoever is slack in his work
is a brother to him who destroys.
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.
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 work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
Do you see a man skillful in his work?
He will stand before kings;
he will not stand before obscure men.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might,for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
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 perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.
Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot.
Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.
one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after 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 when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.