theology of work

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THEOLOGY OF WORK

Stanley L. Derickson

OUTLINE:

INTRODUCTION

I. THEOLOGY OF WORK

II. THEOLOGY OF ETHICAL WORK

III. THEOLOGY OF ACCEPTABLE WORK

IV. THEOLOGY OF UNACCEPTABLE WORK

V. THEOLOGY OF PEACEABLE WORK

VI. THEOLOGY OF GODLY WORK

APPENDIX ONE: Deacon's fund policy

APPENDIX TWO: Work situations calling for ethical evaluation

APPENDIX THREE: Women working outside the home

APPENDIX FOUR: Workmen of the tabernacle/temple

INTRODUCTION:

In recent days our community was shocked by two teenagers, one of which was on a local high school football team, tortured and beat a stray cat to death and then hid the evidence from their parents. The two boys were jailed on a ten thousand-dollar bail.

One of our churchmen, the following Sunday, related this incident to another more common occurrence that goes, basically, unnoticed by the media and the public at large. He related that it was strange that these two young men would be jailed on $10,000 bond, while a doctor can plunge a pair of scissors into the brain of a full term baby and suck its brains out and call it a needed medical procedure.

We in America care more for the rights of animals than we do for the rights of other human beings.

I will preempt this study by saying that I am sure that I will offend some. I will also say that I probably should offend more than I will offend. I will also say that it is not I that offends, but Almighty God. He sets the standards that we are to live by, not me.

Premise: We as believers have adopted the secular mind set that tells us that we MUST have our rights.

The Bible is supposed to be our very guide for living as believers. Baptists have as one of their Baptist Distinctives the Bible as their only authority for faith and practice. However, I think that we will see that today Christians oft reject its teachings by our life style.

We live as if "no" were a dirty word. "No" is a word of control. It was designed to limit the activity. We feel that it is a word that will warp our child's mind so we avoid it like the plague.

Might I remind you that God uses negatives? "Thou shalt not" is a negative much like the word no. God has many negatives, God has many restrictions, yet we in the church over the last few years have given ourselves permission to do all things rather than to follow the restrictions and avoid those things the Scriptures tell us to avoid.

We Christians, seldom say no to ourselves or for that matter to our children. If you spend time in retail stores, you will find that "no" is the word children use when they talk to their parents, rather than the other way around. No, I won't wear that dress to school. No, I won't pay for that with my own money - you buy it for me. No, I won't be quiet. No, I don't want to go yet. No, I won't -------- .

Let's consider our rights for a moment or two.

MY CHRISTIAN RIGHTS

We have been living in a generation that has wanted its rights for all to long. We have groups wanting to be viewed with equal rights. We have groups wanting to be viewed with special rights. We have groups wanting to have the same rights as others. We have groups wanting to limit the rights of some so that they can have special rights. We have groups wanting to limit the rights of some so that they can have more rights than anyone else. Everyone is worried about their rights.

In America we have many rights, and we also have lost many of our rights in recent days. Indeed, if we don't watch our government, we will be loosing many more of our rights.

Some groups deserve to have rights enforced, while other groups want rights that they have no right to.

We have "CHALLENGED" people that want to be able to do everything that everyone else can do, yet they say don't treat me as if I'm special. I'm sorry but you can't have it both ways! If the society spends billions of dollars for ramps and accesses for only those few, then they are special! The ramps and accesses are not necessary for the majority nor are most of them used for the majority. It is not wrong for society to supply equal access to those that need it, but they are special no matter how much they don't want to be.

Our public schools have been teaching young people that whatever they decide to do is okay. They have the right to make any decision that they want. Now those same young people are older and demanding the rights that no one can give them.

Some of those young people are committing crime and wondering why everyone is upset with them. The young people declare their actions all right and themselves not guilty of anything and wonder why others are upset.

THE RIGHTS WE HAVE GIVEN OURSELVES

I recently talked with a man that was very frustrated for his children. One of his kids and spouse came to him complaining of all their problems. They were both working, they were not making a lot of money, they had no savings, they had a home but it was only a very modest one - not what they wanted, they had a three-year-old car, their kids couldn't have all the clothes they wanted, they weren't getting ahead, and in general they were frustrated because they hadn't achieved the American dream - whatever that is.

As the man talked, I was taken with the total self-centeredness of the family. Everything centered upon them and what they wanted and what they didn't have.

SOUND FAMILIAR? I find that this is about where most Christians live their lives. Their concentration is acquiring material things, and acquiring more material things.

If you have been watching television news over the last few years, you know that many people in our nation have been denied the American dream. They resent this exclusion from what EVERYONE ELSE HAS. Indeed, many people in recent riots mentioned this exclusion from what was rightfully theirs as Americans. They haven't achieved what they feel in their minds they should have achieved in the material realm.

Their thinking is very similar to the farmers I used to work within in the Midwest. When I would ask them how they had done in a certain year they would tell me that they lost 25,000 dollars or some such figure. I was talking to them in their $150,000 home working on their $800 television set. I had walked by their three new cars and pickups and had admired the four new snowmobiles parked in the garage.

Now, I would try to figure all this out. Just how does the expression of always loosing money relate to the facts of all I had viewed.

It was explained to me by a farmer one day. The farmer in that area would decide how much he wanted to make the coming year. Say he decided he wanted to make $60,000 and at the end of the year he had only made $40,000, then he has lost $20,000.

Using this method of accounting, I must admit that my wife and I have been loosing about $35,000 per year for the last 30 years. Do you suppose Internal Revenue Service would accept this as real business losses?

Now, let us consider the rights that God has given us in this area of life.

THE RIGHTS GOD GAVE US

I would like to read God's estimation of our rights to the American dream. (By the way isn't a dream something that you look forward to and work toward? The American dream has been something that millions have worked their lives for, not something that is given to them by the federal government because it was due them.)

Gen 3:17b-19 "And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 "Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

God says that we will live - eat and survive - by the sweat of our brow. He does not give 25 declarations, such as: THOU SHALT HAVE A GORGEOUS HOME. THOU SHALT HAVE A BMW. THOU SHALT HAVE A HUGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT. THOU SHALT HAVE A BULGING BILLFOLD. THOU SHALT HAVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION. THOU SHALT HAVE A FIVE BEDROOM HOUSE. THOU SHALT HAVE A ........ . BY THE SWEAT OF YOUR BROW, YOU WILL SURVIVE THIS LIFE, NOT BY THE SIZE OF THINE BANK ACCOUNT.

Our society has given us the self-centered/materialistic mind set that many of us function under today. It is an incorrect mind set!

Before you take what I say wrong, let me be quick to say that God has supremely blessed some of his people through the years. He has chosen to give many of his people great wealth and prosperity, but this is a blessing over and above what he has promised. He has only promised us the need to work for our NEEDS.

When struggling through the first years of Bible college we had very little income. We needed a car to replace the old one that was without a transmission for the second time. We looked at all the cars we could afford and they were in worse shape than our present car. We had bid the salesman goodbye and were leaving the lot. As we neared the edge of the lot we spotted a beautiful white Plymouth Sport Fury convertible. We stopped and commented on how great it would be to have such a car. The salesman walked up and said, "You wouldn't be interested in that would you?" I told him we certainly would. He left for a moment and returned to tell us that his manager wanted to move the car as winter was near and they could seldom sell convertibles in the winter. They gave us the car for what we had to spend!

STRUGGLING, POOR BIBLE COLLEGE STUDENTS driving a Sports Fury convertible with bucket seats and leather interior! God truly blesses sometimes.

Scripture bears out this line of thinking. Abraham, David, Solomon for a few from the Old Testament. These men had great wealth. While these man had great wealth, there were MANY that were barely getting by financially.

We often quote Matt. 6:33 to show that we will be given all we need. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Most interpret "all these things" as everything we want. NO! The context shows clearly that God is promising, not to provide all our wants, but to supply our NEEDS!

God promises to give to us the needs of life. Those things required to keep us alive.

DON'T TAKE ME WRONG! We as believers DO HAVE A LOT OF RIGHTS! I would like to remind you of some of these GOD GIVEN RIGHTS.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE A WITNESS for our Lord: Matt 28:18-20

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HOLY: I Pet 1:15-16 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy ."

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PERSECUTED: John 15:20a "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;"

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO USE OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Eph. 4:8 "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. " The following context of this verse shows that the gifts are to be used, not laid aside in disuse!

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PRAYERFUL: I Tim 2:8A "I will therefore that men pray every where," (James 5:16 also)

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUPPORT THOSE IN NEED: Gal. 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO ETERNAL REST: Rev. 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM SIN: Rom. 6:22 "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."

Now that we know what our true Christian rights are, compare them to the rights that you tend to be worried about and see if your mind is running with God or the world.

Having said all this I trust that you understand that God has created us with the ability to work. Since the fall He has deemed it fitting that we make our living by the sweat of our brow, thus knowing what work is might well be very appropriate to anyone wanting his/her rights!

I. THEOLOGY OF WORK

Technically, theology is a study of God or something closely relating to God. Work is an integrated part of God's plan for man, even before the fall.

A theology of work is a loose usage of the term theology, though I think in our present society with its emphasis on government help, welfare, etc. a theology of work is needed. A study of the thought of work as God sees it. If you object to the use of the term theology substitute the word philosophy.

This will not be a long work, as the Scripture is quite clear that all mankind is to exist by the sweat of the brow. We in our technological society have a distinct advantage to poor Adam. We can sit in the air-conditioned office and put in our eight hours - if we are so blessed. Adam had to pick up his regrets the day after being kicked out of the garden and start scratching for food and shelter.

In Gen. 1:4 we see that God evaluated His own work and saw that it was good. God worked! This should require us to acknowledge that work can't be bad!

I would like to take a slight side track and comment on evaluation of work for a moment. There is no tool of life that is more effective to help you in your work for the Lord. EVALUATION! Without evaluation, you cannot know how you are doing! That is almost as much a fact of life as is the law of gravity.

If you do not evaluate your work you will never know if you are doing a good job or a bad job. When teaching I told my students that I automatically evaluated their work - grades and tests!

As you go into life you should learn to evaluate everything that you do including your secular work. This will help you see your good points and your poor points. As you see the good you can continue to improve to do even better. As you see the bad you can find out why it is bad and make moves to correct the problems.

In Gen. 2:1-3 we find some information that may help you in your study of work. The Sabbath was GOD'S DAY OF REST FROM HIS WORK! There are four principles set forth concerning the Sabbath. 1. COMPLETION: God had finished His work and now was resting. Think of that scene! Picture God resting. Quite a unique concept, the God of the universe resting. 2. CEASING: God rested after a hard work out. Q. Does God need rest? NO! The term has the idea of repose. 3. BLESSED: Two points. a. Some say it was to be a blessing to those that observed it. Point - the text does not say this. b. He blessed it. The text doesn't require blessing for more than one day. 4. HOLINESS: He set it apart or sanctified it. It is of interest that these points also fit Christ and the Lord's day, Sunday. 1. COMPLETION: The work of Christ was complete on the first day. 2. CEASING: Christ sat down at the right hand of God after finishing His work for an extended time. Heb. 4:10 "He also hath ceased from His own works, as God did from His." 3. BLESSEDNESS: Our joy is in Christ since He finished His work. 4. HOLINESS: We are set aside because of His work. As well as the first day.

In Gen. 2:15 we see that God had work in mind for Adam from the very beginning. We need not feel that we are worthless for God can find something for us to do! I don't think that there was a riding lawn mower with eleven attachments, however I don't think that this work would have been dissatisfying to Adam.

EVEN IN PARADISE THERE WAS WORK TO BE DONE! Now apply that. God created work just as He did the heaven and earth. Shouldn't we enjoy work as much as the mountains or oceans?

II. THEOLOGY OF ETHICAL WORK

A few years ago the president of the school where I was teaching theology called me into his office and showed me a news headline. "Major Business Colleges Now Offering Courses In Ethics." My exclamation was, "IT'S ABOUT TIME!"

There is work and then there is ethical work. The crook that breaks into your home and helps himself to your belongings is working. He may even break a sweat, yet this is not ethical work. It is not work that is accepted by our society. I trust you will understand the need to take a moment to consider this topic.

Ethical work is work that is an acceptable mode of making a living according to the dictates of society. Herein is the rub. Our society is, in part, dictated by our legislators. They have defined ethical work by the programs that they have developed to "help" the poor.

Ethical work in 1997 America is working at some job that allows you to make the level of financial status that you desire. Now, within this thought is the fact that some won't take a minimum wage job because it won't bring them to their level of financial status. So, the government has developed all of the welfare programs to help these people that are disadvantaged to raise themselves up to their standards - not by working but by filling out government forms and staying at home and not engaging in work.

This study will attempt to look at ethical work, not what we have in America. This study will look at the real world, the work a day world, the world that sees a days work as the prerequisite for a days pay.

To this end I would like to introduce a passage from the New Testament. II Thessalonians 3:6-15 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count [him] not as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother."

I am not even going to give comment on this passage. It is quite clear that the writer of the epistle was moved by God to state that if you don't work, you don't eat. Now, before I be labeled sadistic etc. let me state that there is another set of teaching in the Word of God that is clear that if someone is unable to work, there should be help available.

The key is the thought of work. In our society the definition of the ability to work is stretched to the limit. We lived in an apartment complex years ago where many welfare recipients lived. The men of the house would go out into the parking lot and play football etc. with their bad backs almost daily. Unable to work - even in a sit down office job, but they could do all those pleasurable items like fishing, hunting, sports, working on cars, etc.

It should be obvious to the Christian that those in the church that do not work are to be shunned - that is church discipline! Few are the churches today that take steps of discipline in any case much less the thought of someone on perpetual welfare.

Welfare is not wrong! Welfare is for those that need assistance until they can get back onto their feet. I doubt that there is a person in the United States that wouldn't agree that we should help those in need, but there is growing opposition to the present system that seems to reward everything except work.

In keeping with this thought I have included as an appendix to this study a deacons fund policy that might give you ideas for your church in how to help those in need. This policy grew out of a young couple coming to our church in need of help. They said they were believers, were new to town, were unable to find work and needed gas money. The deacons gave the couple $50. and we never saw them again - even though they thought they would like to attend our church.

III. THEOLOGY OF ACCEPTABLE WORK

Romans 14:7-8 "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's."

The believer that is sold out to live his/her life for God assumes that God is the sole center of the persons life. Romans 12 is clear that we are all to offer ourselves a living sacrifice to him. Based on these thoughts then we can understand the following philosophy of life that I would like to present.

Since we are God's, and since we have offered ourselves to Him, then NO MATTER WHAT JOB or work we do, we do because of HIM and not ourselves. Based on this then, when we go to work, what kind of job are we to do? Christ gave his life on the cross for us - He has bought us - the only quality of work we should EVER offer is our very best.

Since we work for God our very very best abilities should be used, our very very best efforts should be given, and our very very best attitude should be present! Now, when you get mad at that coworker - you are in need of speaking to your employer - God.

Even if you are working for a very poor employer - you are serving God and actually your real employer is God. He allows you good health to work, He allows you the abilities to hold the job, and He allows the employer to give you work.

Ephesians 6:5-7 is a good basis for this thought. It speaks to slaves - isn't that what you always complain about being at work! No, we are not slaves, but if a slave is to have the attitude of Eph. 6 then surely all free employees should have at least the same attitude.

(Eph 6:5-9 5 "Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.")

You may have noticed I included a couple of verses for masters/employers as well - just in case the reader is not in the slave category.

The very best that you can is the type of job you should do. When living in Wyoming, the only job I could find was janitor work at a printing company. It paid well and I only worked two-three hours a day and it was adequate for the time. I must admit, however, there is absolutely no way that I could have gone into that job on a daily basis without knowing it was God that I was working for. Had I been required to go into that job with nothing more to look forward to than a pay check, I don't think I would have gone. My key thought in that job was that it was a means of living, it was a means of having time to do the work of the ministry, and that it was a means for me to honor God by doing the very best that I could.

Each and every day that I had the job, on the way to work my prayer was that I might honor God by what I did, that I might do a good job for the Lord (not the employer - though I'm sure he enjoyed my work), and that I might present Christ in my actions.

It was during this time that I developed a systematic theology. Initially when I had so much extra time I decided to set down a systematic theology for my children's benefit. Little did I know that this effort would blossom into something as big as it has. It is on the internet being accessed by people all over the world. I have always felt that my being faithful in the janitor job allowed God to do something much bigger than sweeping floors.

IV. THEOLOGY OF UNACCEPTABLE WORK

Somewhere when teaching I ran across a quote that has stuck with me. "Christian mediocrity is still mediocrity." Doing a sloppy job as a Christian is still a sloppy job. Doing the job haphazardly as a Christian is still a haphazard job. Just because we are believers it does not mean that we can do a poor job and expect God to make up the difference.

Little needs to be said in this section. We are to do the best that we can, thus anything less is unacceptable. If we decide to view our occupation as something less than our best, then we are thumbing our nose at the Lord. He asks for the best, and that is what we should give to Him

V. THEOLOGY OF PEACEABLE WORK

The Scripture calls us to get along peaceably with others, be they believers or nonbelievers. Thus an application of our principle of work should be that we work peaceably with our coworkers and our employers. You may say, "You're asking an awwwwfffulll lot Lord!" There have been times when I have felt the same way.

Coworkers and employers can be a pain in the neck. I had been having a very bad day when my employer came to me - five minutes before I was to go home - and told me he wanted a certain job done. I knew that the job would take a couple hours at best. I worked peaceably with him, but I must admit I didn't get any spiritual blessing from it because I had an attitude problem for quite awhile.

AGAIN, if we are working for God - then the extra work that is laid on won't be a problem to us. (SEE I AIN'T PERFECT YET!) I have often thought that Paul placed the phrase "...that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." with the prayer and intercessions of the previous verse for my benefit. If I am praying for all men then I can have that peaceable life. (I Tim 2:1-2)

God is the one we should work for, but the man that writes that paycheck deserves all we can give him as well. Everything we do honors God and I have seen more than one of my past employers notice the job I have done and know that it was God that brought that good job about.

VI. THEOLOGY OF GODLY WORK

I would like to look at two aspects as we close. The thought of Godly work breaks well into two divisions. First of all the thought of the ministry and secondly the thought of work, jobs and occupations that ought not be held by Christians.

MINISTRY: For many years I have viewed the call to ministry as a special blessing to the person that receives it. They are called into a work or ministry that they truly enjoy. They can get up in the morning and know that they are going to enjoy what they do - not like some that get up in the morning knowing that they will have to clean bathrooms, or sew 3,000 seams, or weld 4,000 pieces, or what have you.

The minister of God that is paid for his work is the nearest thing to skirting the curse that I can think of. Actually anyone that enjoys their work is flirting with overcoming the curse to me. Not that the person is trying to get around God, but they are involved in doing what they want to do in life and get paid for it.

I'm sure many there are that are in this situation that are not in a full time ministry - indeed, if we are REALLY working with that attitude of "I'm doing it for God." we will enjoy what we do.

UNGODLY WORK: In this area I trust that I will not step on toes for there is a wide latitude as to what is right and wrong in our day and age even among believers.

I would naturally class any illegal work in this area. I also would class many other works here as well. There are occupations that are morally improper for the believer to be involved in as well. Then there are the areas where it may be legal, and it may be morally all right, but is it all right for a believer.

Among the illegal, we are speaking of crime, embezzlement, cheating, etc. The morally wrong would be those things that God condemns even though our society or government may not condemn. Prostitution for example is legal in some areas, yet not Biblically right.

The last area is less easy to decide. For example should a Christian sell lottery tickets? Some are probably trying to figure out what I am talking about. Many believers play the lottery, so why would selling the tickets be wrong. Many Christians view gambling of any kind wrong. It is placing something God has intrusted to them to be a good steward with. Putting it out to chance is not good stewardship.

Should a Christian sell alcoholic beverages? Should a Christian be a janitor in a pornographic printing company (NO I WASN'T). Should a Christian work in a store or business where the employees are expected to cheat the customer.

These are some areas where believers must go to their Bibles, Godly counselors, and God for guidance and advice. Then the person must make up their own mind.

I would encourage anyone in these areas to consider very carefully their decision in light of the thought that their testimony before the world may be hindered. If you are working in one of these areas, you may cause people to stumble, or you may cause people to not want to listen to you when you witness to them.

For example if you have friends that have high moral standards even though they are not Christians - and there are many people in this classification - and you take a job in an area where they feel you ought not, they will most likely not listen as closely when you talk of their sin and their need of Christ's work on the cross.

Even within the okay jobs, with the okay employers, with the best of intentions, we will find ourselves faced with moral decisions. Some examples might help you watch your steps. These are found in appendix two.

I have also included an appendix relating to Christian women working outside the home. This is found in Appendix three. There seems to be more and more controversy about Christian women working outside the home.

I trust that this has been helpful to some. It is not meant to be a complete study of work in the Bible, it is just a beginning for the person that wants to go deeper.

APPENDIX ONE

(This policy was formed with the Congregational form of government in mind. It would be quite easy to adapt it to other forms of church government.)

In that the Scripture is very clear that we are to be in the custom of assisting other believers in need, and in that the Scripture is very clear that we are to be in the custom of assisting widows and orphans, and in that the Scripture is clear that we are to be in the custom of assisting strangers, we hearby institute this policy to assist us in this ministry to those in need. (See footnote at end of policy for references.)

Each person seeking assistance will be interviewed by two of our deacons/elders and their concurrence will result in help. There is no need to INVESTIGATE a request for help other than to talk with the person involved to gain a sense that the need is valid. (We will trust God to guide us in our decisions and allow Him to deal with those that misuse our ministry.)

1. The fund shall be financed by an offering taken in the missions bowl after the Lord's table service each month.

2. The fund shall be dispersed under the guidance of the deacons.

3. The funds will be distributed by gift certificate as much as possible, or by cash/check if the need is not available via certificates.

4. A grocery closet will be maintained at the church via the donations of the membership. It will contain sealed goods that can be stored for extended periods of time.

5. If the fund is depleted, and a seemingly valid case exists the deacon and pastor may go before the church for a special offering/general fund expenditure for the assistance.

6. A list of social service agencies will be maintained and a copy of that list shall be given to each person requesting assistance. (It is assumed by this policy that much of our tax money goes to support social services, so we should make use of those services for the assistance of those in need.)

7. A total value for each assistance shall not exceed $50. (Groceries need only be approximated.)

8. The above is not to say that every person that requests assistance is to be helped. It shall be at the discretion of those talking with the person that may or may not determine to extend help from the church family.

9. If there is a choice between church family members and those outside the church, then the church families needs should be met first.

FOOTNOTE:

Heb 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. I Tim 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world. Matt 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty , and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hundred, and fed [thee]? or thirsty , and gave [thee] drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took [thee] in? or naked, and clothed [thee]? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.

Nave's topical Bible references for further study: De 15:7-18; Le 25:35-43; Ps 41:1, 112:9; Pr 3:27,28, 11:25, 22:9, 25:21,22, 28:27; Isa 58:6,7,10,11; Eze 18:5,7-9; Mt 5:42, 19:21, 25:35-45; Mr 9:41, 10:21; Lu 3:11, 11:41; Ac 6:1-4, 11:29,30; Ro 15:25-27; 1Co 13:3, 16:1-3; 2Co 8:1-15,24, 9:1-15; Ga 2:10; Php 4:10-18; 1Ti 5:8,16, 6:18; Heb 6:10, 13:16; Jas 2:15,16; 1Jo 3:17.

APPENDIX TWO:

1. While working as a television technician a customer asked me to alter a circuit in their little color television. I looked the set over and found that I could do the requested work and proceeded. I plugged the set in and saw a bright flash in the neck of the picture tube which indicated that I had damaged the tube. Correct I was. I had blown the picture tube. It would cost over $100. to replace the part.

I took my job in hand and told my employer what I had done. He thought for awhile and told me to call the customer and tell them that we had to orders some parts and that we would call when they got in. This required two things: A lie to the customer, and a listing of parts on the work order, neither of which are morally acceptable to me.

I knew that I could not do as my employer - a man of usually high moral character - had requested. I asked him if it wouldn't be better to just be up front with the customer and apologize and tell them what was going on. My employer thought for a moment and agreed with my estimation of the situation. I called the customer and told him of the problem and he was quite understanding and even felt bad that he had requested we do the work.

2. You are being given free health insurance by your employer. The agent comes in and requests your signature on a health form. You sign the form and as you finish you notice that the form is already dated - three weeks prior to your signature.

What do you do? Do you chance not being covered with the FREE insurance? Do you upset your employers agent? Do you upset your employer? I trust you will do what is right.

3. Your employer tells you to tell a customer that a refund will be mailed out in two weeks. You know, however that the company policy is that you don't mail out the refund. Only when the customer calls and asks why they haven't received the refund do they send it out. Do you lie to the customer? Even though you know the company does this because they know that crooks don't usually call back? Even though you feel that this customer is really a crook?

4. You take a job at a Christian book store and on the first day you find out that they sell books that disagree with your beliefs. Do you quit? Do you sell books that you really don't agree with?

5. You take a job at a television repair shop. On the third day, over lunch you hear the other two employees talking of the employer as if he is the dumbest person on earth. You hear them indicate that they have cheated him. You find out that one of the men is not legally licensed in the state to work on television sets. Do you continue your job - it's their problem not yours - right? Do you quite? Do you tell your former employer why you have just quit?

6. As an older person with a lot of education you find that you cannot find employment. Many tell you it is due to your age or that you have too much education. Someone tells you to just fill out applications and don't mention the education. Do you do such a thing knowing that the applications state that you are swearing the information is true when you sign the application?

These are just a few examples of ruff spots I've run into over the years. There are all sorts of ways that the Devil will twist truth and squeeze right living to see if you will do wrong. I trust you will be on your toes in the work place as well as at home.

The moral of this section is watch where you are headed and ask questions before you move forward. Think about the ramifications of your actions. I have found myself in situations where I knew what was right, but wanted to go the easy route. Being Godly EVERY day is the only way to live your life.

The work world has some slippery corners to turn, and I trust that it is the Holy Spirit that is holding you up, not the Devil that is helping you fall down!

APPENDIX THREE:

There have been preachers that have taught and preached that the woman is to be in the home. Because of this many women in our churches have had feelings of guilt because they either wanted to, or had to work outside the home.

I stayed in the home of a couple overnight in Kansas and had a real good time of fellowship. When I went up for breakfast the husband was not out to the kitchen yet. The wife turned to me and ask, "Stan, do you think that it is alright for women to work outside the home?" I told her that I did and shared some thoughts with her.

She was almost in tears when I was finished. She had been under great pressure from her Christian community concerning her going to work. She said that she felt that the mothers place was in the home. I agreed with her, but within the Scripture I had shared.

She told me that she had been raised that it was wrong for the wife to work. Her husband had been in the hospital for heart problems and had been told not to work anymore. She had no choice but to go to work.

She was quite relieved that there was someone that saw that she had no choice. I ask her if she had talked with her pastor. She said yes, and that he had told her about what I had told her. She was not even confident in what her pastor had said due to her strong upbringing in the church and the pressure from others in the church.

A working mother being a possibility is based on a couple of Scriptural observations.

1. Prov. 31:10-31. This passage makes mention of the wife purchasing property, caring for a household, planting a vineyard, selling fine linen that she has made and in all this finds time to be a good wife.

Notice should be made of verse 28, "Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." Verse 30 also gives the key to this type of woman, "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."

2. The book of Acts mentions two ladies that were involved in working. Acts 16:14 mentions Lydia, "... a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira...." Acts 18:2ff mentions Priscilla and her husband. "...for by their occupation they were tentmakers."

It is always best if the mother can remain at home at least while the children are at home, but this is not possible in all situations (The children benefit greatly by having their mother present all the time.). We as believers should understand the Biblical record and not just our own personal preference.

I would prefer that all women remain in the home if they desired to, yet that is not realistic in some cases.

APPENDIX FOUR:

We won't take time to consider the following, but you might do some study in the area of the workmen of the tabernacle and the temple. These workmen were involved in God's work and they did a good work.