LESSON FOR THE JUNIOR CLASSES
STUDY SCRIPTURE:
GENESIS 2:15 EXODUS 20:9 JOHN 5:17 ACTS 20:33 2 THESSALONIANS 3:6-12
Key Verse
“In everything that i showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
Acts 20:35
INTRODUCTION
Some young people like to be very active, and love to be doing a lot of projects and involving themselves into many activities. They cannot seem to stay still but like to use up their energy in doing what they like. Other young people like to be quiet and stay out of the limelight, but they will still be engaged in activities to which often others do not pay much attention.
But though they have different personalities and like to do things in different ways, they like to be active in their own way. They both are great example to others and the world will be attracted to follow their example and become hard working children of God who do good and stay out of trouble.
But this is not the case with every young persons. Some simply like to hang out with others, follow the latest trends which often does not advance the progress of the kingdom of heaven. They get into trouble all the while.
The Apostle Paul had a problem with Christians in Thesssalonica and he wrote several letters to answer the questions bothering them. One was their worry that those believers who died before Jesus returned to earth would miss out on the glory of Jesus’ return and His kingdom. The Apostle had to reassure them that even if they died before Jesus’ return they would be safe in the arms of Jesus.
The next problem they faced was that some of the believers did not like to work, and were satisfied with the other members of the Church supporting them while they hung out with each other and went around from house to house gossiping and interfering in other people’s business, and generally doing what they liked to do. They loved idleness.
The Apostle did not concern himself with why they loved to be idle and the excuses they made not to work and support themselves. He commanded that everyone should work and help the members of the Church who could not work because of sickness, disability, or some other reason out of their control. Paul reminded them that when made the heavens and the earth He rested on the Seventh Day and He gave Adam and Eve instruction to look after the earth and all the life forms and animals in it. They should work just as God had worked. So God set the example for human beings and they knew they had a job to do.
When Moses gave the people of the nation of Israel the Ten Commandments they knew that they had to work to obey the Commandments. When Jesus came He worked all the time doing miracle, teaching, and healing the sick every day including the Sabbath Day. The believers in Jesus wjo came into the early church worked to support themselves and support those who could not help themselves by working.
So the Apostle Paul pointed out working was good for people. It would help them to grow spiritually. When they worked they were following the instructions and the example of God. Refusing to work meant that the idlers were in rebellion against God. God wants His children to help themselves and improve their status and ability to support themselves during their life. He wanted His children to help others who were helpless, for in doing so they would be growing and resembling the character of their Redeemer, the lord Jesus Christ, who worked hard when He was on earth to help all human beings.
Working was a good habit for it helps the person working and it helped others around them. It showed the world the good example of how God was and how He worked to help human beings.
So let us work and not be idle. There are many different kinds of work we can do. Our work will make the kingdom of God grow. It will show the love of God for all of us. Working will present a good example for those in the world. God will reward us for working and building up His Kingdom