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GRACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF WORK
Kris Vallotton
October 27, 2015
Grace is not the absence of work! In fact, grace gives us the strength, energy, and ability to work at a superior level. The apostle Paul wrote, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Jesus said work is the catalyst to city transformation. He said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
Here is what Solomon said about lazy people; “He who is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9)
“Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger.”(Proverbs 19:15)
In fact, the Bible warns us about lazy “believers” who refuse to earn a living for their families. It says, “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)
And finally, our Lord shared the Kingdom’s perspective on work when He told us the parable of the talents. Here is His commentary on the lazy, least talented guy; “The one who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, LAZY slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'” (Matthew 25:24-28)
Now get to work!
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