Why do we work?

Many people outside of baseball don't think of my job (baseball) as work but as I play a game for a living. But despite that view, playing baseball as a means to provide for my family is actually a lot of work. Athletes in general do not simply show up to the park, play a game, and go home. There is a ton of behind the scenes work that we do to prepare ourselves to be ready for a long season, or just one game. But we still face the same challenges as the office worker, store manager, janitor, etc. Not to mention we all have rough days where we want to just chill out, or we grumble and complain. Then as a believer, the question comes up... Why do we work? If God provides, and we trust in His provision, and all the material benefits we got from making money doesn't affect us when we die and reach glory with the Father, then why bother? These notes may change that attitude...

1. Work declares Gods Character
  - God's 6 days of creative work (Genesis 1-2)
     - God created the heavens and the earth in 6 days
     - So to work is to emulate God. Since we were created in God's image, we work because God worked
     - God is working in us to work. Therefor when we work it is declaring His character

2. Work declares Gods image
  - Ephesians 4:12- Message for the Church and kingdom work. Equipping the saints for ministry. This is local Church's job. Equipping the believers.
  - Ephesians 2:10 - we are his workmanship prepared for good works (or equipped for good works)
  - Work isn't just 9-5 but it is also doing good for others
     - Ask yourself this question. Are you working for the good of others?
  - Jesus was working when he "wasn't supposed to"
     - John 5:9 john 5:17 Christ is working on the sabbath for Gods glory
     - Matthew 12:8 Jesus does this again... He calls out the pharisees and does his work on the man on the sabbath. What's the point? God is always doing good works for others.
** All work is kingdom work for the believer
** 2 Timothy 2:4- Things of this world are not to distract us from our kingdom work 

- The dichotomy between secular work and kingdom work is false. All work has dignity. There is a problem with work if we are concerned where we are at on the totem pole. If you are this person you will feed on your futility.

- Have faithfulness in a very little thing or job- do we cut corners or do we fear the Lord to have dignity in our work? Colossians 3:22-24
 - You are honoring Him and walking in faith if you are working in the Lord
- Phil 2:14- doing all things without grumbling and disputing
   - we give testimony to God with how we handle our work
   - The bible has a lot to say about laziness (Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 18:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 21:25 and plenty more)

3. Work declares his design
- psalms 104- we have a fertile earth that God has given us
- Job 28:5-6 Got to work for that gold
- proverbs 14:23 - work produces and provides for others
   - Paul warns us if we do t work and produce for our home we are worse than

an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8)

- So do we work to get? Or work to give?
- Working is like God, it declares his design for us. He works for the benefits of others

4. Work declares Gods purpose (for our sanctification)
- Work is the lifelong process for carrying out good works for others for our sanctification
- How do we respond when work seems unfair? God has a purpose in these moments
   - Jesus submitted himself under Pilot's authority to carry out Gods work
   - Every thorn or prick in work is part of God's purpose
   - We learn Christ through the submission of our will when we are at work
- 1 Peter 2:18-25 when we suffer for His name it is a good work. God is honored when we suffer for doing good
   - Our problem is that we want to work for ourselves
- God will feed you futility if you take credit or grumble or are not happy with where you are at in your work
- So work hard renewing your mind constantly to honor Christ with all you have (1 Corinthians 10:31)