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Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (10:00 am)

   AM Worship (11:00 am)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes (7:00 pm)

Location

180 Townwood Drive

Charlottesville, VA 22901

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To Work or Not to Work

By Whit Sasser

From the beginning of time, until heaven itself, we are meant to be active workers. Human beings are created to work and when we willfully do not, we are setting ourselves up for trouble, for we are going against our very nature.

The first human beings were given a job of tending the garden of Eden. After sinning, work continued, although it was toughened. Along the Old Testament way, God restricted work, but nowhere released mankind from it. When we come to the New Testament, it is warned, that if one will not work, neither should he eat....and that we are not to be meddlesome in other men's affairs, but tend to our own business and work.

When at last we get to heaven, we will not be floating around on clouds doing nothing, but rather, will be serving God (Revelation 22:3). What will that work comprise? I do not know. But my point is made...we are working creatures and God intends that we go to our graves working. 

Now some feel that eventually they will retire and not work another day until they die. This is a bad idea. Though you may be able to quit a job that is worked for a living, work of some kind should be maintained as long as you are mentally and physically able. The Bible does not seem to say that all men are to work, except those who financially do not need to. Actually, being able to work at what you want, when and for how long you want, and not even have to consider payment is a wonderful blessing. So rather that looking forward to retirement, so as to go on a permanent vacation, look forward to it as a time of life when you can work more to your own liking.

The sleep of a working man is sweet (Ecclesiastes 5:12). It is healthy emotionally to rest after a day of labor. It is healthy mentally to rejoice in a job well done. It also aids in the development of healthy self-esteem. And much trouble is avoided, due to being gainfully employed a great deal of the time. Work is a wonderful blessing with many benefits.

Last of all, children need to be taught the value of hard work. They need to be taught how to work. They need to be taught how to do a job well. They need to be taught how to see a job through to its completion. Teaching children about work is teaching them about God's will, what will make them a better person, and what is a big part of what we are all about as human beings.