Labor

Could we turn please to the book of Ecclesiastes? The book of Ecclesiastes. It's our opportunity to be here because it's Labor Day. Otherwise, most of us would be working, likely.

And so I've had the thought of labor on my mind for some time. Labor. And I think perhaps it fits toward the end of our day today because obviously every one of us feel that we have heard good truth, we have heard practical truth, we have been exhorted to preparation, and we realize we need to put it into practice.

Otherwise, what will the good of this day be to the glory of God or to our own eternal reward if it's all good going through and nothing sticks with us? And so I want to think a little of labor. And let's read one verse in Ecclesiastes chapter 1, verse 8. All things are full of labor. Man cannot utter it.

The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing. I'm going to use a number of words that start with the letter P to collect my thoughts. But one that stands out right off is the pervasiveness of labor.

The writer says all things are full of labor. And isn't that so? Probably many people who aren't here today because they just had too many things they needed to get done. And that's a reminder to us.

Do we remember that we are pilgrims passing through? Sometimes we have too many things. I often complain about not having enough time. My wife says maybe you make too many things for yourself to do.

I want to say, in case I forget to mention later, labor is not the punishment of the fall. Labor is a wholesome thing. We're going to find that in later scriptures.

The vanity and vexation of spirit that fills the book of Ecclesiastes is not the fault of the labor. The ground was cursed for man's sake and so the contention with weeds and pests and all of the rest, the natural disasters so-called, all of these things are the effects of sin. They're creation out of order.

When God created Adam, he put him into the garden to dress it and to keep it. And so there was labor in the garden. In the millennium there will be agricultural labor.

And even in the eternal state, his servants shall serve him. And so labor, there's nothing wrong with labor. Labor is a wholesome thing.

But don't we feel day by day that all things are full of labor? And we need to be careful that we don't become overcharged with the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things entering in. And let us not fall prey to the vanity and vexation of trying to find satisfaction in a world that can never satisfy. That's what the unsaved are doing.

We trust that we as God's people will set our aspirations and our affections on things higher than just the labors of this life because they are not an end in themselves as we will consider later. They're an end to a means to labor for the glory of God. And so the pervasiveness of labor.

Let's turn to just back a few pages to the book of Proverbs chapter 14. Proverbs chapter 14 verse 23. We're going to be reading a lot of verses in my time here.

Proverbs 14 verse 23. In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. And so profit.

The profit of labor. We are promised here in all labor there is profit. And the contrast is given but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Again the principle of what we discussed at the beginning. What are we going to do with what we have heard today? If we labor to put it into practice there will be profit. If we just talk about it we'll accomplish nothing.

I fear we're far too guilty of that. We have more information, more opportunity to understand what the word of God says and means in its original languages or whatever. But are we laboring it out? Or is it just talk? So I trust we will realize that in order to profit we must labor.

I want to think of some spheres in which that's true and we can just, let's read them just for getting them in through our eyes as well as our ears. Let's turn to Luke chapter 6. Perhaps it will keep you awake as late in the afternoon it tends to get hard to stay awake. Turn with me to Luke chapter 46.

These are not going to have the word labor in them but they're the thought of profiting by labor, putting into practice rather than just talking. And this is going to be in the sphere of Lordship. Luke chapter 6 verse 46, the Lord Jesus speaking to his disciples, and why call ye me Lord Lord, and do not the things which I say.

Profit in the sphere of Lordship. The talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. Why call ye me Lord Lord? In all labor there is profit and do not the things which I say.

And so to prove that the Lord Jesus is Lord we need to do what he says. To talk about it, to admire it is not to prove the Lordship of Christ. And so profit in the sphere of Lordship is doing what he says not just calling him Lord.

Let's turn to the book of James. James chapter 2 verse 14. We're thinking about the sphere of testimony here.

James chapter 2 verse 14. What doth it profit my brethren? Though a man say he hath faith and hath not works, can faith save him? Verse 17. Even so faith if it hath not works is dead, being alone.

In the realm of testimony, what doth it profit the profit of labor, the profit of doing is that it gives reality. We may say something but the world wants us to prove it. The world is full of hypocrisy and sham particularly in the sphere of religion.

And men and women have the right to expect to see our faith and not just hear about it. And so the profit in labor is in doing and not just saying. And James gives the example of saying to someone, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled but not give them what they need.

That doesn't bear any weight. There's no profit in that. That's just talk of the lips.

Alright so Lordship, testimony, what about love? Let's turn to 1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3 verse 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Remember our verse, in all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And so beloved, let us put our faith, put the Lordship of Christ, put our love into action because in all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. And so we've had the pervasiveness of labor.

All things are full of labor. We've had the profit of labor. In all labor there is profit.

What about the preservation of labor? Let's go to 2 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians chapter 3. Let's read from verse 6 for connection. Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us.

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us, for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you, neither did we eat any man's bread for naught, but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you, not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. The preservation of labor.

The American way and much of the advanced world so-called, the goal is more leisure, less work, more money. Beloved, that can be a trap, because it is for our benefit, it is for the benefit to be occupied. One of the sins of Sodom, Gomorrah was abundance of idleness.

An idle mind has been said is the devil's playground. It is good to be occupied. The apostle had set that example.

As an apostle, he had the right, he who preached the gospels should live of the gospel, but he didn't take that authority because he wanted to set an example for others, laboring night and day, so that he wouldn't be chargeable to them, to set an example for them, because he could see there was a tendency among them to want to sit back. Perhaps their excuse was the Lord is coming. Maybe that's actually our excuse sometimes.

Well, the Lord's coming, no use putting too much effort into things. No, we don't know when he's coming and where to occupy until he comes. There is preservation in labor.

We could turn back just a few pages to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. The words of the apostle Paul again to the same company, apparently some had not heeded his exhortation, but 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 11, and that ye study, or ye be ambitious to be quiet and to do your own business and to work with your own hands as we commanded you, that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. So there is a preservation even for our testimony in labor. To be occupied, to be busy, not too busy, not workaholic so that we have no time for the Lord's people and for the Lord's work, but so that we're not idle, not looking, where can I go on vacation next? Self-pleasing.

It's the spirit of the age, but rather we are to be occupied that we may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing, to meet our need and to be a testimony to others. The same principle is given in 1 Timothy 5 concerning widows, that their, his advice that they marry, bear children, guide the home, give non-occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. Labor is an honorable thing.

It can be a preservation unless we abuse it for our own ends. Let's turn back again to the book of Proverbs, Proverbs chapter 23. We have considered the pervasiveness of labor, the profit of labor, the preservation of labor.

What about the prohibition concerning labor? Proverbs chapter 23 verse 4, labor not to be rich, cease from thine own wisdom. Labor not to be rich, a prohibition concerning labor. Now this would be a good balance, and God is always balanced.

Sometimes in our ministry we tend to emphasize one thing or the other, but the word of God is fully balanced in all these things. Whereas labor is wholesome, it can be a preservative, too much labor, too much work can be a snare to us. And here is a good example.

Here's part of the balance, labor not to be rich. We know the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter 6, lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth. And he reminds us what happens to treasures upon earth.

Moth and rust corrupt, thieves break through and steal. We're all familiar with the things that can happen to riches. The stock market, some rumor can upset the stock market world and everything can come crashing down.

Labor not to be rich. Maybe it was just as well in a sock as in the stock market sometimes. Enough said about that.

Labor not to be rich. Do you remember the warning of Paul in 1 Timothy? They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. They that will be rich desire to be.

Those who labor to be rich. For the love of money, not money, but the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. And we have seen it happen.

And we need to watch ourselves that we be not ensnared in the same thing. There is this prohibition in regard to labor, labor not to be rich. We were told to have to meet our needs.

We could have read elsewhere, let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good that he may have to give to him that needeth. So to meet our own needs, to meet the needs of others, to further the gospel and the work of God, all of those are legitimate uses of labor. But labor not to be rich, lest there be a snare to us.

The prohibition concerning labor. What about legitimate pursuits? Pursuits for labor. There are still a good number of young people coming to conferences and many times it's almost the majority.

Full of energy, full of vitality, we'd like to give them some outlet for their energy. What are the legitimate pursuits of labor? Let's turn to Romans chapter 16. Romans chapter 16, verse 6. And I'm going to read it to you.

I'm going to read it to you. Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us. I have a word for sisters here.

Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us. Sisters, there's a work for you. Paul doesn't enumerate what she did.

Perhaps she, like the women who followed the Lord Jesus in the days of his earthly ministry, ministered to him of their substance. Whatever practical things there are works for sisters to do, in connection with assemblies, in connection with missionary work, there are legitimate opportunities to labor for sisters. And I would urge my sisters to do the same.

Sisters to look out those things, in connection with the assembly. There are those who are sensitive when there's a death in a family or sickness or something. And there are sisters who are right on the spot with a casserole or whatever.

It's a labor. Others don't see the need. Others are unable to meet the need through infirmity or whatever.

It's a good work. Salute. Greet Mary, rather, greet Mary who bestowed much labor on us.

Paul appreciated that labor. And sisters, there is an opportunity for your energies in the things of God. This is like the honor roll in the book of Romans.

She is given honorable mention here. Let's look at Philippians chapter four. Philippians chapter four, verse three.

And I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also and with other my fellow laborers whose names are in the book of life. Help those women which labored with me in the gospel. There's always work in connection with gospel meetings that sisters can do.

There are people they can contact that their husbands being off at work don't have opportunity to. And people, neighbors, people they have befriended. These women labored with the apostle in the gospel.

And so again I say to my sisters, there is work for you to do. There is a labor that is honorable before the Lord. It is a pursuit of labor that is worthwhile.

Let's go to Colossians chapter four. This will link with what our brother William had before us this morning, connection with prayer. Colossians chapter four, verse 12.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Laboring fervently for you in prayers. I 100 percent agree with what our brother has said this morning.

Prayer is one of the easiest things we can do. And I suspect most of us the very moment we were saved lifted our hearts in prayer and thanksgiving. But it is also one of the most difficult things.

It is totally contradictory but very often we are too busy to pray. We get up in the morning, we have our breakfast and then we must rush away and get busy. And we haven't had time to pray.

But here is a man who was always laboring fervently in prayer. And beloved, I see aged brothers and sisters out here and we appreciate your presence and your example. This is something you can do.

You have time perhaps that the rest of us feel too busy to take time to pray. It does take time to go over the assembly and name each individual or each servant of the Lord or each series of gospel meetings that you know of that are going on. It is work.

But it's a worthwhile work. It's a labor that God would endorse. It is a legitimate pursuit of labor.

And so always laboring fervently in prayer. Let's go again to 1 Timothy chapter 5. 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 17. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.

Labor in the word and doctrine. I'll confess to my shame that it took years for me to realize that the care of the saints and seeking to feed them with spiritual food is not something that we should just leave for Saturday night and hope we could get a little lineup. And I don't want to discourage anyone.

God gives you a little lineup. Give it to the glory of God. But we are facing things in assemblies nowadays that we didn't face in years past.

Questions, wrong doctrine, questionable things that need to be addressed, need to be addressed systematically, scripturally. And just a little lineup just isn't going to accomplish the work. Because there are cunning men out there who have their program well lined up and they sound persuasive.

And unless we can counteract that with scriptural truth, there is a need for elders in assemblies to labor in the word and doctrine. I fear that in some ways we have rejected the thought of trained people and trained pastorate so entirely that we have thought that it's all just on a wing in a prayer. Beloved, that's not what God wants.

Those who labor, elders who labor in the word and doctrine are worthy of double honor. It is an honor. It is a privilege.

It is a responsibility for us to be in our books and to understand truth and be able to set it out in words easy to be understood. One last point. What is the promise concerning labor? Perhaps your mind is already going to 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

What's the point of it all if there's not something to be gained from it? Beloved, I trust that what we would do for the Lord's sake, we do for the Lord's sake and not for what we get out of it. But God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labor of love. And so let's read in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 58.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. I think those are fitting words for us to go home on. Obviously the background in this chapter is the resurrection.

Paul from several angles has attacked the opponents of the truth of the resurrection to just remind them how empty everything is if there is no resurrection. First of all, we're not saved because if Christ isn't raised, then we're still in our sins and he just proceeds to show that everything unravels concerning the word of God if there is no resurrection. But he closes on this note because there is a resurrection.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Any labor done for the Lord, for his glory, for the good of his people, for the furtherance of the gospel, it's not in vain. God will reward it.

There is a resurrection and we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and receive the things done in the body and all labor that has been legitimate for the Lord will receive its reward. I trust if the Lord spares us a while longer, ere he calls us home to be with himself, we will heed this to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. So I trust these thoughts concerning labor would stir our hearts as we head homeward to put into practice what we have heard.

There's profit in labor. There are prohibitions concerning labor, but there is a promise concerning labor.