Psalm 104:23 Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening. I. WORK IS A DUTY. "Six days shalt thou labour," is as much a Divine ordinance as is the command to do no work on the seventh. He who is idle seven days is as out of harmony with God's law as is he who toils without a break. Paul's command, "That if any man would not work neither should he eat," represents the ideal to which society, as it grows perfect, will tend. The idle man is neither happy nor healthy. Says Carlyle, "To make some nook of God's creation a little fruitfuller, better, more worthy of God; to make some human hearts a little wiser, manfuller, happier, — more blessed, less accursed! It is work for a God." II. WORK IS A RIGHT. While some will not work, many who would cannot get it to do. And men and women are in poverty, and near to starvation, who would gladly toil had they the chance. We need to have the teaching of Christ applied more broadly to this than it has ever yet been. No employer has a right to think simply of getting all he can out of his men, and then to discharge them when trade is slack, while he himself is living luxuriously on the fruit of their toil. III. WORK HAS, OR OUGHT TO HAVE, A LIMIT. "Until the evening." "Come ye apart," said Christ, "and rest awhile." That is a need of life. No labour is right that does not allow it. No man does himself justice or gives God His due service when he lets his work monopolize his life. IV. WORK MUST HAVE A TERMINATION. Just as the hours hastening on limit opportunity, and the shadows lengthen until the evening comes and work is ended; so life's days go, carrying with them openings that can never be ours again, and the shadows draw out, and the sun sets, and the day is at an end, and its work is done — good or bad it must stand for ever. How man will toil when he knows that on it depends home with its rest and happiness. And shall not we toil earnestly in the Master's service when we know that on our faithful labour depends the home beyond with its bliss. (F. Smith.) Parallel Verses KJV: Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.WEB: Man goes forth to his work, to his labor until the evening. |
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