Laboring Under Difficulties

Those who work for God should not be a stranger to hard work.

When I read the title to this chapter, I thought that it was referring to Paul's problems (stoning, imprisonment, etc.) in the various mission fields. However, in the second paragraph of the chapter I discovered it was referring to something different.

Among the Jews physical toil was not thought strange or degrading. Through Moses the Hebrews had been instructed to train their children to industrious habits, and it was regarded as a sin to allow the youth to grow up in ignorance of physical labor. Even though a child was to be educated for holy office, a knowledge of practical life was thought essential. Every youth, whether his parents were rich or poor, was taught some trade. Those parents who neglected to provide such a training for their children were looked upon as departing from the instruction of the Lord. In accordance with this custom, Paul had early learned the trade of tentmaking.  pgs. 346, 347

The basic theme of the chapter is that manual labor is not something to be avoided.

Work is a blessing, not a curse. A spirit of indolence destroys godliness and grieves the Spirit of God. A stagnant pool is offensive, but a pure, flowing stream spreads health and gladness over the land. Paul knew that those who neglect physical work soon become enfeebled. He desired to teach young ministers that by working with their hands, by bringing into exercise their muscles and sinews, they would become strong to endure the toils and privations that awaited them in the gospel field. And he realized that his own teachings would lack vitality and force if he did not keep all parts of the system properly exercised. pgs. 353, 354

You may read that and say that this principle is only for those who wish to be pastors, evangelists, etc. My answer to that is that we are all called to be a minister of some sort, a witness for God wherever we go. Also, simply because we live in a society where a large percentage of the work is not physical as in making tents, it doesn't mean that if we work a white-collar job that we can be lazy. We are called to do our job to the best of our abilities.

What if we are one of the millions of people in this country that are unemployed? That is not a reason to be lazy either. Aside from the task of finding work, we can still be rather productive. Do jobs around the house that have been neglected for lack of time. Volunteer at various nonprofit organizations. Devote time to that exercise program that we know we should be doing. Staying active not only helps fight off depression, but also keeps your mind and body sharp for the time when we find a paying job.

There's always more that could be said, but I think the point is made. There is no such thing as a lazy Christian.