Confessions of a Church: Slack in Work

The Psalm writer wrote:  Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. As we come before a Holy God and hear his word, may we have eyes open to the wonderful and fearful things from his law. May it move us to repent and seek forgiveness, fear disobedience, and live in light of the grace we have received.   This is the word of God.  It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.

Proverbs 18:1-10 He who separates himself seeks his own desire, He quarrels against all sound wisdom. A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind. When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, And with dishonor comes scorn. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. To show partiality to the wicked is not good, Nor to thrust aside the righteous in judgment. A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, And his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.

Genesis 2:15 tells us “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it”. When God created man in His image, He created man with a desire for work, and this desire is one of the many ways we reflect the nature of God as His creations. God created man to work and keep the garden, and saw that it was good. Since the fall however, man’s perspective of work has been distorted along with every other aspect of creation. While God sees work as good, we see burden. God works to create, provide, and protect: we destroy, consume, and shirk our responsibilities. We can look to Christ and see that He was always doing the Father’s business, while we are often pursuing after our own appetites. The Proverb today tells us that “He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.” Who do we know from scripture that Jesus said comes to kill, steal, and DESTROY? It is none other than Satan himself. So when we are slack in our work, we identify more closely with Satan, than with our Heavenly Father. God gives life, Satan kills. God is a giver of good things, Satan is a thief. God is a creator, Satan destroys. When we sin by not being faithful workers in that which God has given us to do, we reflect Satan, not our Heavenly Father.
God has given each of us work to do: Husbands, to love your wife, lay down your life for her, to protect her, lead, and provide; Father’s, to train your children up in the way they should go, to sharpen your arrows, and launch them into the world to do battle, when they are ready. Wives, you have been tasked with submitting to your husband, managing your household, being a helper to your husband; as mother’s, you were created to nurture and care for your children, to teach them the fear and instruction of the LORD, without provoking to anger. Children, you have been commanded by God to honor your Father and Mother, to do unto others as you would have them do to you, to be diligent in your studies, to be obedient, the first time, without grumbling and disputing, ALL to the Glory of God. All of us have been given work to do. Are you being faithful in all the work God has given you? Can you say with the Apostle Paul that whatever you do, you work heartily unto the LORD? If able, join me in kneeling as we confess how we have failed to keep God’s commands to be diligent workers.

“Alas O LORD, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly, and rebelled, even turning aside from your commandments and ordinances” ( Daniel 9: 4,5). Heavenly Father, where You have commanded that we work, we slack. Where you have given us responsibilities, we have been neglectful. Heavenly Father, in accordance to Your will and good pleasure, You have created us male and female, and as Your elect, caused us to be born again. As new creations in Christ Jesus, we have been blessed to participate in good works prepared beforehand, yet we sin against You when we instead embrace the flesh, the world, and the schemes of Satan, by setting aside your command to work, rather than following after Your Son Jesus in obedience. Please forgive us Father. Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and transform us by the renewing of our minds, so that we might walk in the Spirit, so as to not carry out the desires of our flesh. It’s in the name of Your Son Jesus that we pray, Amen.
 
 Listen now to the comforting assurance of the grace of God, promised in the gospel to all that believe: 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Lift up your hearts!!!!

(From the May 20th 2018 Liturgy of Sovereign King Church written by Aaron Sabie