Page 21 - January 2026 - Truth & Tidings

that plague the world around us. They are glory of God, but it can also become an
often the ideal worker.” impostor, claiming the rightful place of
The Lord uses our secular work to bring our God.
great blessing to our lives. The financial “Little children, keep yourselves from
blessing that the Lord brings through idols. Amen” may be the last words
our work provides for our families, our written chronologically in our Bible (1Jn
assemblies and the work of the Lord. The 5:21). The aged apostle, who had outlived
bounty of work extends far beyond the so many of the first Christians and felt
financial. Work brings structure, teaches burdened as he considered assemblies
valuable interpersonal lessons, and often entering a new century ahead, expressed
leads to opportunities in the gospel. With this insightful admonition. His wisdom
all its aggravations, deadlines and middle speaks to our day. An idol is anything that
managers, when is the last time I simply takes the place of God within our lives.
thanked the Lord for leading and provid- Have I allowed work to encroach upon
ing for me in my work? time that was previously devoted to meet-
Yet a sobering thought rises to the ing attendance, Bible study and devotional
surface. In our day, it is likely that the time? Have I developed the habit of glanc-
financial wealth of assembly believers in ing through the day at my 401k rather than
North America far surpasses that of past lifting my eyes to heaven to ask the Lord
generations. But what of our spiritual to sustain me this day? Would my ego and
wealth? Certainly the God who is so will- self-worth collapse without my job? The
ing to bless us with gainful employment list of searching questions and personal
is a God who would delight to shower
us with further spiritual blessing. Are evaluations could continue, but they are
we guilty of laying up treasure in all the simply evidence that work would love to
wrong places? Are we prioritizing the become the idol, the god, whom I serve.
material over the spiritual? Work Is Our Future

Work Is Not God Dr. A.J. Higgins has often cautioned,
“ARBEIT MACHT FREI” (work makes “Many people tell me, ‘Doc, once I retire
you free), proclaim the twisted metal then I will get serious about my health.’
words over the entrance to the concentra- But I find that most people remain exactly
tion camp of Auschwitz. It was a cruel and as they were during their employment.”
twisted lie of the Nazi regime, as over a Thank God for every believer who is us-
million souls passed under that sign and ing his or her retirement to further the
found death. But if you look closely at the work of the Lord, for teachers yielding
sign, you will find that the B in “ARBEIT” their summer to children’s work, and for
is upside down. The Jewish metal workers precious vacation hours being spent at a
forced to make the sign understood that Seed Sowers event. But we should all be
they were in an evil, upside-down world, cautious not to delay our work for God
and so they expressed it in the small way to a future day. The time for work is now.
that they could. We need to face the truth Indeed, in heaven we will be at work for
that we are in that same evil, upside-down His glory, so let us labor for Him today
world. Indeed, our work can be to the and exhaust ourselves for His honor.

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