Work: Burden or Opportunity?

Work: Burden or Opportunity?

2 Thessalonians 3:6-18


Call to Worship: Psalm 90:1-2, 4, 10, 12, 14, 16-17 (NIV)

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
    or you brought forth the whole world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

A thousand years in your sight
    are like a day that has just gone by,
    or like a watch in the night.

10 Our days may come to seventy years,
     or eighty, if our strength endures;
     yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
     for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

12 Teach us to number our days,
     that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
     that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
     your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
     establish the work of our hands for us—
     yes, establish the work of our hands.

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, 9-12; 5:12-15 (NIV)

4:1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

5:12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

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