By: Bro. Emmanuel, Adeoye (Evangelist)
Download Lesson
DIGNITY: is the state or quality of being worthy of honour – respect. (Nobleness, Royal-ness, Impressiveness, solemnity, magnificence).
- Dignity is of four types
- Dignity of Merit
- Dignity of Moral
- Dignity of Identity
Dignity of Universal human
LABOUR: is to exert one’s power of body or mind especially with painful or strenuous effort.
Dignity of labour means all occupation whether involving intellect or physical labour deserve equal respect and dignity. The Bible say God put man in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Gen. 2:15). Paul wrote to the Thessalonians on the dignity of labour. He rebuked and disowned those brothers and sisters in the church who live idleness, for they were not living according to the laid down rule of the church The Lord’s purposes are not the purposes of men. He did not design that men should live in idleness. In the beginning, He created man a gentleman; but though rich in all that the Owner of the universe could supply, Adam was not to be idle. No sooner was he created than his work was given him. He was to find employment and happiness in tending the things that God has created; and in response to his labour, his wants were to be abundantly supplied from the fruits of the Garden of Eden.
While our first parents obeyed God, their labour in the garden was a pleasure; and the earth yielded of its abundance for their wants. But when man departed from obedience, he was doomed to wrestle with the seeds of Satan’s sowing, and to earn his bread by the sweat if his brow.
A stagnant pool soon becomes offensive, but a flowing brook spreads health and gladness over the land. The one is a symbol of the idle, the other of the industrious.
In God’s plan for Israel, every family had a home on the land, with sufficient ground for tilling. Thus, were provided both the means and the incentive for a useful, industrious, and self-supporting life. And no devising of man has ever improved upon that plan.
To the world’s departure from it is owing, to a large degree, the poverty and wretchedness that exist to-day. In Israel, industrial training was regarded as a duty. Every father was required to see that his sons learned some useful trade. The greatest men of Israel were trained to industrial pursuits.
A knowledge of the duties pertaining to housewifery was regarded as essential for every woman. And skill in useful duties was looked upon as an honour to women of all stations in life.
Judicious labour is a healthful tonic for the human race. It makes the feeble strong, the poor rich, and the wretched happy. Satan lies in ambush, ready to destroy those whose leisure gives him opportunity to insinuate himself under some attractive disguise. He is never more successful than when he comes to men in their idle hours. Among the evils resulting from wealth, one of the greatest is the fashionable idea that work is degrading.
The prophet Ezekiel declares: “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” Here are presented before us the terrible results of idleness, which enfeebles the mind, debases the soul, and perverts the understanding, making a curse of that which was given. The apostle Paul regarded idleness as a sin. He learned the trade of tent-making in its higher and lower branches, and during his ministry he often worked at this trade to support himself and others. Paul did not regard as lost the time thus spent. As he worked at his trade, the apostle had access to a class of people that he could not otherwise have reached.
He showed his associates that skill in the common arts is a gift from God. He taught that even in every-day toil God is to be honoured. His toil hardened hands detracted nothing from the force of his pathetic appeals as a Christian minister. God designs that all shall be workers. The toiling beast of burden answers the purpose of its creation better than does the indolent man. God is a constant worker. The angels are workers: they are ministers of God to the children of men. Those who look forward to a heaven of inactivity will be disappointed; for the economy of heaven provides no place for the gratification of indolence. But to the weary and heavy-laden rest is promised.
The faithful servant who will be welcomed from his labours to the joy of his Lord. He will lay off his armour with rejoicing and will forget the noise of battle in the glorious rest prepared for those who conquer through the cross of Calvary. PROV. 22:29
29 Seest thou a man who is expert in his calling – Before kings may he stand; Not stand before obscure men;
He can enter into the service of kings and needs not to enter into the service of mean men = he is entitled to claim the highest official post. the conclusion which might begin with expresses further what he who sees will have occasion to observe.
Seest thou a man expert in his business, etc. denotes in all the three chief dialects one who is skilful in a manner not merely by virtue of external artistic ability, but also by means of intellectual mastery of it, to enter on the situation of a servant before anyone.
Proverbs 6:10-11
Just a little bit more sleep are, the result of such laziness is dire poverty, which will come as suddenly and decisive as a robber.
ECCLESIASTIC 9:10
Enjoy your work (v. 10). The Jewish people looked upon work, not as a curse, but as a stewardship from God. Even their rabbis learned a trade (Paul was a tentmaker) and reminded them, “He who does not teach a son to work, teaches him to steal.” Paul wrote, “If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess 3:10).
“Do it with all your might” (NASB) suggests two things: Do your very best, and do it while you still have strength. The day may come when you will have to lay down your tools and make way for a younger and stronger worker. Col. 3:17 applies this principle to the New Testament Christian.
The things that make up employment in this life will not be present in the grave (sheol, the realm of the dead), so make the most of your opportunities now. One day our works will be judged, and we want to receive a reward for His glory (1 Cor 3:10ff; Col 3:23-25).
If we fear God and walk by faith we will not try to escape or merely endure life. We will enjoy life and receive it happily as a gift from the Lord.
ACTS 20:34
Paul also mentioned laziness (Acts 20:34). Paul earned his own way as a tentmaker, even though he could have used his apostolic authority to demand support and thereby have an easier life. It is not wrong for Christian workers to receive salaries, for “the laborer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7; 1 Tim 5:18). But they should be certain that they are really earning those salaries! (Read Prov 24:30-34.)
Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, encouraged them to mind their own business and work with their hands, so that their daily life may win the respect of outsiders and that they would not be dependent on anybody 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12).
Work gives you a sense of worth, esteem and respect. Work is honourable and dignifying. You become a burden to others, when you are not engaged in any work. The rule is, ‘when you don’t work, you shall not eat’. Work existed before the fall of man. The Bible says God put man in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15).
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians on the dignity of labour. He rebuked and disowned those brothers and sisters in the church who lived in idleness, for they were not living according to the laid down rules of the church. He encouraged them to imitate his exemplary life because he worked night and day. He did not in any way like idleness; neither did he depend on their material support for living. He worked for his earnings and paid for what he ate (2 Thessalonians 3:6-10).
To work is a command and not a suggestion (2 Thessalonians 3:10). It is a command that if any should not work, he should not eat. Many people today want to make money without work. A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand work.
Take pride in your work, as no particular job is indispensable, and all jobs are complementary. You should not look at any job as menial, and you must work to earn a living for others to be encouraged by your example. Stop waiting for cheap success and go to work.
Abraham departed his father’s house to work and he was rich in livestock, silver and gold (Genesis 13:2). Abraham dug wells of water for his farming (Genesis 21:25). Isaac farmed/worked in the land and received in the same year a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12). Isaac discovered and reopened the wells that his father, Abraham had dug (Genesis 26:18).
When you die, will your children you were a hardworking or lazy person.
It takes a successful person to produce other successful people. Abraham was a diligent man, who trained his servants for success (Genesis 14:4). As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).
Skilled workers are always in demand and admired. People that are good at their work never take back seat (Proverbs 22:29 MSG). Work produces wealth; Proverbs 28:19a, “Whoever works with his hand will have plenty of bread”. People who work rule the lazy people (Proverbs 12:24).
When you don’t work, you cannot have and when you don’t have, you cannot give to others in need (Ephesians 4:28). The Bible speaks the hard truth, when
It takes a successful person to produce other successful people. Abraham was a diligent man, who trained his servants for success (Genesis 14:4). As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). Skilled workers are always in demand and admired. People that are good at their work never take back seat (Proverbs 22:29). Work produces wealth; Proverbs 28:19a, “Whoever works with his hand will have plenty of bread”.
People who work rule the lazy people (Proverbs 12:24). When you don’t work, you cannot have and when you don’t have, you cannot. Give to others in need (Ephesians 4:28).
CONCLUSION
We need to be diligent in all we do so that we can achieve our goal to build our future in having a safe landing. This require Adequate planning through sitting, thinking and writing down plans. We must expunge idleness which was not part of God’s plan in creation and for us.
Download Lesson
