THE THREE PRINCIPLES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE – “WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS”

Work, as is conceived and applied in the Bible, is something very unique from how the rest of the world sees it. The Bible sees work as good and beneficial. Work is a responsibility given to man by God our Creator Himself, at the very beginning…
– “7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul…15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” – Genesis 2:7,15

Work is a responsibility given to us by God Himself. Work, from the biblical perspective, is also seen as a blessing. It is a blessing because, when we obey God, He will bless our efforts – if we work faithfully, and in line with godly biblical principles, the blessings will flow from the hand of God.

Having the above concepts as the background, the LORD speaks to us through the writings of apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 4:11. 
– ’11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Let us look at the third principle laid out in our text for our meditation, this morning.
3- TO WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS
To work with our own hands, simply means, we are called to work, and not be lazy people. 
– The LORD our Creator is absolutely clear that as human beings we are created to work. 
– Work is an integral part of human life, as intended by our Creator. 
– Therefore, we HAVE to work; and work FAITHFULLY and FRUITFULLY.
– This is why our LORD instructs us, “WORK WITH YOUR OWN HANDS.”

– When we approach work with such an attitude, the principles that govern our work ethic would be certainly godly and biblical.
– The efforts we put into such work would surely bear fruit, because God is in it, and He will invariably bless such work.
– When we believe all work is God given, then we have a healthy sense of dignity of labour.
– We will also respect the worker working for us, or working under us, because, this worker is given that work by the very LORD Himself, even though we may be the human agent.

Berean Study Bible Notes, commenting on 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says thus, which should enable us to see clearly the way God sees work.
– “and to work with your own hands – Paul emphasizes the importance of manual labor, which was a common expectation in the Greco-Roman world. This instruction counters any tendency towards idleness, which Paul addresses more directly in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12. By encouraging work, Paul upholds the dignity of labor and the value of self-sufficiency. This also reflects the creation mandate in Genesis 2:15, where Adam is placed in the garden to work it.” – Berean Study Bible Notes

The LORD encourages us through many other verses in the Bible to *work hard with our own hands, work honestly, work with integrity* and work as though it is the LORD Himself who entrusted this work to us, and not a mere human being.
– “28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” – Ephesians 4:28
– “33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.” – Acts 20:33-34
– “12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:” – 1 Corinthians 4:12
– “22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons…​1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” – Colossians 4:1 

So, what kind of a worker are we? Do we work with our own hands? Are we a lazy worker; or are we an industrious worker? Do we see work as God given responsibility? Is the LORD Jesus glorified in and through our work? Would the LORD Jesus be happy looking at our work, and its quality? Let us pause for a moment even right now and take a deep and honest look at ourselves as a worker. Let us seek the LORD our Creator and our Redeemer, to help us be good and godly Christian worker. Even so, the LORD help us.