Clerical World Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good… The idle members of a community are its greatest curses. I. THE WRONG IDEA OF WORK. 1. It is wrong idea that work is wholly a curse, to be escaped if possible. See the folly of no work. (1) Powers wasted. (2) Time wasted. (3) Temptations strengthened. 2. It is a wrong idea that the end of work is to amass wealth: (1) For show. (2) For personal pleasures and gratifications.Is not this the Widely prevalent, if not predominant thought in our day? II. THE SIGHT IDEA OF WORK. 1. To produce something beneficial to man: "Working with his own hands that which is good:" "that which belongs to the category of what is good and honest...There may, perhaps, be also involved the notion of what is beneficial, and not detrimental to others." A statue, a picture, a poem, a book, an article of clothing honestly made — all this is "making with our hands something good." 2. To obtain the satisfaction of imperative personal needs. 3. To give of our superfluity to the wants of others, whether bodily or spiritual. (Clerical World.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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