I'm a big fan of music, I like all kinds. While listening to the radio the other day, I came upon a country song by Toby Keith, 35 mile an hour town, and the words caught my attention. It was basically a song about a small town and how things used to be;
But now there's a lower higher power in this 35 mile an hour town.Oh we can't blame the babies for growing up lazyAnd crazy it ain't them that let them downIf they ain't stealing, they're suing, why work when we'll give it to 'emIt's right there in the bible we don't pull outSpare the rod and you'll sour a 35 mile an hour town.
That song got me thinking about how the adversary has lulled people to sleep. Most Christians are aware of the blatant attacks like homosexuality, abortion and the like; it's the subtle rubbing, the erosion of how people think, that we need to wake up to.
NIV Genesis 3:1-4 1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"2The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,3but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" 4"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman.
Nothing blatant here, just add, delete, or change a word, and then there's total contradiction of the Word of God.
Just as the devil tricked Eve, he's trying to trick us. Welfare mentality has become the normal way of life, physically, mentally, and spiritually. I'm not saying that from time to time people who need help shouldn't get it.
(Acts 2:45 (KJV) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.), according to Gods Word they should. I'm referring to working when we can get it for free by burdening someone else. God never intended to have a family of welfare recipients. In fact, Adam was supposed to work from day one.
Work is exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something.
NIV Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.
There you go, God wanted man to work physically, even though you wouldn't think there would be much work, (after all it was paradise), that's what God wanted Adam to do.
NIV Genesis 2:19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
Surprise! Adam had to think, he had to name the animals, Adam had to work his brain.
Now, what about spiritually? I think it's safe to say Adam communicated with God, for example the previous verse. Communication is work. You have to open your mouth, move your lips, etcetera. It takes thought also. If you have ever tried talking without thinking, you know what I mean. If you haven't, I wouldn't suggest it. The phrase open mouth and insert foot comes to mind.
When people think of physical work they may think carpenter, brick layer, or laborer, some sort of manual labor, in all actuality any job where money or services are exchanged for money or services is physical labor. If you work a job you have to get up, get dressed and go to a place of business, this takes physical effort.
NIV 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.9We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat."11We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.
According to the Word of God, people need to be busy about earning a living, not being a busy body getting all up in the mustard and can't ketchup.
Moving on to the mental aspect of life I'm thinking of Proverbs 23:7 for as he thinketh in his heart so is he. If we don't have our heads in the Word of God our heads are in trouble.
KJV 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I believe I could rest my case right here, the more you sweat in the Word of God the less you'll sweat in the world.
KJV 2 Peter 1:2-3 2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
How do you get grace and peace multiplied? The knowledge of God! Who wouldn't want that? God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. The only way to know those things is to work the Word of God, that's part "A".
NIV James 1:21-22 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
We need to get out the broom and sweep out the dusty corners of our minds. Get rid of the moral filth, get the knowledge of God and put it on. Do the Word of God, that's part "B". That's the left, right combination punch that puts the adversary on the ropes in the spiritual boxing ring.
I believe one way we can work in our spiritual lives is by receiving the holy spirit into manifestation. Once you are born again and receive holy spirit, you receive power. The manifestation of that power is the work of the spirit, AKA some of the part "B" from a few lines back.
KJV 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Jesus Christ blazed a super highway back to God for us. I sometimes like to think of the manifestations as heavy roadway equipment bull dozers, earth movers, front end loaders, steam rollers, excavators. Think about it; talk about crushing the adversary under foot, what if you used a bulldozer. When you consider miracles or believing, can you think earth mover, gifts of healing the pot hole patching and repairing sometimes necessary in our lives? It's nine pieces of spiritual heavy equipment God gave us to do His work.
As power infused sons of God, we need to desire the physical, mental and spiritual depth of God's Word and show the world what God has done for us and what it can do for them.
Just a couple of final closing verses that are so befitting;
KJV John 14:10-12 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
I've only touched on a few things regarding physical, mental and spiritual welfare and my prayer is that you will work this aspect of God's Word for yourself, specifically the benefits. If I can be of any assistance in any way please feel free to contact me and I'll do whatever I can to bless you and help you or get you in touch with someone who can. You are God's best and all He has to make Him known. Go out and be an example, have a job, study the Word of God and do the wonderful works of God.
KJV Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Note: All scripture is from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. NIV indicates The New International Version, NKJV indicates the New King James Version, ASV means the American Standard Version, BBE means the Bible in Basic English, DBY means the Darby translation, NAU means the American Standard Version, 1995 Edition, and NAB means the New American Bible translation. For more information, go to the Works Cited page.