WORK ETHICS

“So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work" (Neh. 4:6 NKJV).

There was opposition to the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem during Nehemiah’s time. In our verse we have a record of the building during troublous times. The building of the wall succeeded because there was persistency in the work, progress in the work, and passion for the work.

Persistency in the work – “So we built the wall.” Too often when opposition comes, people quit. Nehemiah and his fellow Jews did not quit working when opposition raised its ugly head. They persisted in their work. One of the most effective ways to defeat the enemy is to keep doing God’s work. When faced with opposition we need to keep going and not quit.

Progress in the work – “The entire wall was joined together up to half its height.” In spite of the opposition, great progress was made. During this time the people succeeded in getting the wall completely joined together and halfway finished in its height. We can make progress even in difficult circumstances. God is not weak but can help us in times of trouble as well as good times (Psalm 46:1).

Passion for the work – “The people had a mind to work.” Another key to the success in building the wall was that the people had a mind to work. Having a mind to work keeps a person working in spite of opposition or difficulty. One of the great needs of our society is for people who have a mind to work. Much of the poverty in our land is as a result of people not having a mind to work. A mind to work will put a stop to laziness

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Many Christians suffer from loneliness because they are sitting instead of serving!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Double-minded

In James 4:8 we read, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (NKJV).

Double-minded is the Greek word dipsuchos (δίψυχος = dip'-soo-khos). It is made up of two words: “dis” which means two and “psuche” which means soul or mind. Thus the word means two souls. Literally, it describes one who has two minds or one who is two-spirited. It describes a person who is distracted and divided in his thoughts, floating between two different opinions, as if he had two minds or two souls. As one writer put it, dipsuchos is describing a man who is ‘a walking civil war in which trust and distrust of God wage a continual battle against each other.’

So, James is sharply reproving those readers who had divided affections – on the one hand holding on to the world while at the same time trying to hold on to God! This person in a sense has divided loyalty which is manifest by indecision and doubting. God demands undivided affection (single minded heart) and undefiled conduct (clean hands).

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would be the sacrificial Lamb (Isa. 53:5)

New Testament Fulfillment – John 1:29

Bible Facts

Life is more than matter and energy (Gen. 2:7; Job 12:7-10). We know that if a creature is denied air it dies. Even though its body may be perfectly intact, and air and energy are reintroduced to spark life, the body remains dead. Scripture agrees with the observable evidence when it states that only God can give the breath of life. Life cannot be explained by raw materials, time, and chance alone as evolutionists would lead us to believe.

Bible Quiz

Who in the New Testament could be described as a worrywart (one who worries excessively and needlessly)?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: Why did the Israelites spend 40 years in the wilderness? They grumbled against God (Num. 14:29).

That’s in the Bible

"God and mammon”

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24 NKJV).

“God and mammon” - The expression “God and mammon” means the choice between serving God and riches. Mammon is a Hebrew word for material possessions. Originally, mammon was the wealth which was entrusted to another person for safe-keeping. In time, it came to mean not that which is entrusted, but that in which people put their trust. Material possessions can usurp a place in our lives which they were never meant to have. There is no better description of a person’s god than the power in whom he or she trusts. When people put their trust in material things, then material things their god.

Here the Lord Jesus is showing the utter impossibility of loving the world and loving God at the same time. No man can be a slave to two owners. He who gives his heart to the world robs God of it. God demands first place. Like the slaves in ancient times, believers in Jesus have no rights of their own (they were bought with a price). God must be the undisputed master of their lives. To truly serve God, believers must be devoted to Him only.

Did You Know - Christian History

Thomas Guthrie was born on July 13, 1803 in Brechin, Scotland. He was a Scottish clergy and philanthropist. He was one of the most popular preachers of his day and was associated with many forms of philanthropy - especially temperance and Ragged Schools, of which he was a founder.

He was just twelve when he entered the University of Edinburgh. For ten years he studied a wide range of subjects, including medicine and science. After leaving school, he became a pastor. At his first church in Arbirlot, he taught the gospel, as well as doctored the sick and helped his people establish a savings institution.

Thomas Guthrie opened “ragged schools” and fed the children who attended. He had a hand in every good work, fighting alcoholism, improving housing, calling for better work laws. He was one of the preachers who joined in creating the Free Church. Its pastors became directly dependent upon their people rather than living off the state as civil servants. When many were thrown out of their parsonages and suffered severely, Thomas raised over £100,000 (over $1,000,000 today) in less than a year to build parsonages for them.

In addition to his social work, he preached faithfully. Hundreds of lives were salvaged through his efforts. Among his writings are The Gospel in Ezekiel; Plea for Ragged Schools; The City, its Sins and Sorrows; Christ and the Inheritance of the Saints; The Way to Life; Speaking to the Heart; Man and the Gospel; The Parables; Our Fathers Business; Early Piety; Studies of Character; Sundays Abroad; The Sunday Magazine.

A Little Humor

Tommy had been misbehaving in children’s church and was isolated from the other children for a time-out. After a while he emerged and informed his teacher that he had thought it over and then prayed about it. “Fine,” said his teacher, feeling very pleased. “If you ask God to help you not misbehave, He will help you.” “Oh, I didn’t ask Him that,” said Tommy. “I asked Him to help you put up with me.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“God’s grace makes new creatures out of the best and worst sinners!”