Clown Artist Philosopher

The Work Ethic

Few claiming to be Christians would say that material wealth would save. But many still fall into thinking work will save. Lazarus was a beggar, he would spend each day sitting out on the road in a wealthy district of the city, giving praises to God, and living off what he could collect in his bowl. There was a wealthy man who would walk past him every day and never gave a crumb of bread. The wealthy man held Lasiris in great contempt, he had no time for beggars. Come there time Lasris, being a man of God, went to Heaven. The wealthy man believing in his station went to Hell.
One of my Christian mentors tells me his great theory on how to deal with the unemployed.
“Breaking rocks.”
“How do you mean?”
“People on the dole should be made to break big rocks into lots of little stones.”
“How would that fix anything?”
“It would give them a work ethic.”
I laugh to my self at the thought of turning up to a job interview with breaking rocks on the resume, who needs a rock breaker these days? We live in a time of options, much of dealing with the unemployed is about helping the individual realise the options open to them. If you are fit and agile and not too bright and you want to go out into the country for a while you might want to take up fruit picking. If you are like me you run away with the circus. If your smart and ambitious and you want to live in the city you may want to take up business and follow all the trends in food, clothing and gadgets. Or if you are like me you may want to juggle on street corners for what ever you can get in your hat. Or maybe you want a regular nine to five that will pay you enough for a good simple life with enough left over to put away a nest egg for when you retire. Maybe you want to drop out, that is a viable option these days, live on welfare and concentrate on gardening and interesting ways to cook rice. I once put the concept of this option to my sister who responded with “Well what if every one did it?” Well it would be a complete disaster, but not many want this option. The desire to contribute in return for rewards is a natural drive most of us have. This option is not an easy way out, it’s hard work to effectively manage your life on such a tight budget. I for one like a few more of life’s luxuries, a sense of identity and plenty to do with my time.
We live in a material world, but it is not the material things that we will be taking to heaven. The things we work for in this life will either be useless or be provided for in bountiful supply in Heaven. Work will not save you, it is only in knowing God’s will for us that we shall know salvation. And in knowing God’s will, we shall find our place in the world. It may be your place to work in a good honest job, or it might be your place to simply think about things a lot and reflect on the world around you, or maybe play sports, or perhaps be a multi billon air riding the big waves of the investment environment, it might be your place to be a beggar. Any way this life might work out for you, your place in the next life is defined by what you believe, not how you earn your living.

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