Slides: The Causes of the Need for Coaching Part 2

Steve Elzinga

The loss of a Biblical, positive work ethic

Two prior questions:

- Why should I?

- Is work good or bad?

What is needed for a Biblical, positive work ethic

1. Need

"The appetite of the laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on." (Proverbs 16:26) 

"Even when we were with you we gave you this rule: The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

2. Want

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17) 

3. Made up need

"Go to the ant, O sluggard, consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest." (Proverbs 6:6-8) 

4. Obligation

"If anyone does not provide for his relative, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8) 

5. Opportunity

"Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.." (Ecclesiastes 11:6) 

6. Riches

"Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich." (Proverbs 10:4) 

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." (Proverbs 14:23) 

Purpose of riches

"The leech has two daughters. “Give! Give!” they cry." (Proverbs 30:15) 

"Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." (Ephesians 4:28) 

7. Satisfaction

"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" (Ecclesiastes 2:24-25)

8. God’s purpose

"I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadow boxing." (1 Corinthians 9:26) 

"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an an heritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ your are serving." (Colossians 3:17,23-24)