Do eat _____________. Food is a necessity which God provides (Matthew 5). God encourages us to pray for food (Matthew 6:11), and God has ordained work as the means for the provision of food to eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). Although Jesus did fast at one forty day period in His life (Matthew 4:2), Jesus regularly ate and drank before His resurrection (Matthew 11:19) and ate after His resurrection (Luke 24:41-42).
What to eat:
Our diet is defined by ______________. No animal that God created should be viewed as unclean in and of itself (Acts 11:9; Romans 14:14), and eating a certain food cannot make us unclean (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21). However, do not eat anything that will violate your conscience or will cause a brother to stumble (1 Corinthians 10:28-29). With this in mind, we do well to stay away from animals that are dedicated to idols, uncooked, or strangled (Acts 15:24). On the other hand, eat whatever is set before you (Luke 10:8; 1 Corinthians 10:27). By seeking others’ eternal good in our diet, we glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
With whom to eat:
Eat food regularly with __________________ (Acts 2:46-47), but not with false believers (1 Corinthians 5:9-14). Work to share food (Ephesians 4:28) with the needy (Luke 14:13; Matthew 25:35), such as widows (Acts 6:1-7) but only true widows (1 Timothy 5:5). Eating is associated with celebration (e.g. Nehemiah 8:10; Genesis 21:8) while not eating is associated with sorrow (e.g. Matthew 9:15; Esther 4:3; Joel 1:14; 2:12). Jesus provided bread and fish to the multitudes (Matthew 14:21) and fish to the disciples (John 21:9).
We are Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) as we eat with unbelievers (1 Corinthians 5:9-12). Perhaps we should focus our time on anyone __________ Christ (Luke 19:3). Christ ate with sinners, seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:7,10).
How to eat:
Eat with _____________ (1 Timothy 4:1-4) and contentment (Ecclesiastes 4:6), not gluttonous grumbling (1 Corinthians 10:10; cf. Exodus 16:13-14; Numbers 11:31-35).
Eat as one in memory of the______________ (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25).
A Thought Provoking Truth: There will be a feast in God’s kingdom (Matthew 8:11-12), but there is not even one drop of water in Hell (Luke 16:24).
Ephesians 4:28
“...let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands...”
The word “labor” here (κοπιάτω) refers specifically to tiring, physical labor. For example, disciples as fishermen “labored all night,” trying to catch fish (in Luke 5:5). When Jesus had finished a wearying trip, the phrase “being wearied” is a translation of this word “labor” (in John 4:6). In other words, put your whole self into it - regardless of your job (Colossians 3:23), regardless of your boss (1 Peter 2:18) - as unto the Lord.
Bonus: If a brother in Christ does not work, do not have anything to do with him - do not even give him food (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12; cf. Acts 18:3) - “that he may be ashamed.” (2 Thess 3:14). For a similar command, see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13.
Bonus: Excessive sleep (Prov 6:6-11; 20:13; 24:30-34; 22:14-15), excuses (Prov 22:13; 26:13), and chatter (Prov 20:13) get in the way of obedient productivity.
Question: In your labor (in school, the workplace, or ministry), what is one way to labor better this Monday?
“...so that he may have something...”
You can expect diligence to lead toward provision (Proverbs 28:19; 12:11) and honor (Proverbs 22:29), and it is right for the diligent to receive provision (Luke 10:7) and honor (Proverbs 31).
Bonus: As boss, God notices how you pay your employees (James 5:1-6).
Bonus: Diligence not only tends to result in having things but also in having well-maintained things (Ecclesiastes 10:18).
Question: Is there an important thing that I already own that I can maintain better this Monday?
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“...to share with anyone in need.”
“Share”
Share as an expression of love (1 Corinthians 13) - for God’s applause, not man’s (Matthew 6:4,6,18).
“Anyone”
Family. God desires for parents to save for their children (Proverbs 13:22; 2 Corinthians 12:14) and for children to put their parents’ financial needs above an offering to the Temple (Mark 7:9-13). For example, the family should take care of any widows who are relatives (1 Timothy 5:8-16).
Believers. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers [who are the obedient followers of Christ, according to Matthew 12:46-50], you did it to me.” (Matthew 25) This can manifest in giving as an individual to individual needs (James 2:14-17), in giving through the local church to the local church’s needy (Acts 2:32-37), or in giving through a trusted group to another church’s needy (1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 9:1).
Others. When we love our haters (Matthew 5:38-42), we follow the example of Jesus who washed the feet of Judas (John 13:14) and healed the ear of the High Priest’s servant (Matthew 26:51).
Bonus: If your ultimate aim is wealth for yourself, you are in grave danger (1 Timothy 6:9; cf. Mark 4:19). If you gain wealth, invest it into your eternity through generosity (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Question: If you had 100 dollars to give, who would you help (directly or through a ministry)?
Give more than you take at work so that it is too their advantage to give you more than you need so that you can give more than you take outside of work to those in need. Cycle of generosity. That's how we swim upstream. I do not choose survival by only loving myself. That's not of human; so, will not that one have no place in the inheritance, since he was just an obstacle, just a waste products to expell down the drain?
