[New Life New Way] Made To WorkSample

Provide For Those In Need

Among the many purposes of work is to provide for ourselves and our families, and to provide for our ministry or those in need. This does not mean to just provide financially. It means to provide encouragement, help, love, counsel, emotional support, spiritual advice, and much more to help people in need and see an impact in their lives.

The Bible says: “The thief must not steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need” (Ephesians 4:28 HCSB). It is an essential part of work’s purpose to provide those in need. 

Martin Luther thought that the main purpose of work was to love and serve one’s neighbor. He would change the word “calling” for “vocation”, referring to work. He taught us that our neighbors need our good deeds more than God needs our good deeds. God works through our vocations or jobs to help people in need. He uses doctors to help sick people heal. He could just heal them without needing anyone, but He still chooses to use our jobs to help others. He uses farmers to cultivate and grow food when He could just send manna from Heaven and feed all humanity. Still, God chooses to use our jobs to bless us and to help those in need. God protects us from everyday harm with the jobs of police officers. He teaches us through teachers and orders our society through governments. He takes care of us from the moment we are born through our parents.

God uses our work to help and provide for people in need every day. That is why it is absolutely necessary for those of us who are able to do so to keep working. The world needs us. God has put something amazing in us that is exactly what someone else needs.

As author Hugh Whelchel said: “According to Luther, we respond to the call to love our neighbor by fulfilling the duties associated with our everyday work.”

Thought of the Day: We can make a difference in our world if we learn to use our abilities and our work to help those in need, not only financially, but in every aspect of life.