Genesis 2:15The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Work is a plan of God’s.

Exodus 34:21“Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

Work is a plan of God’s.

Rest is a provision of God’s.

Proverbs 26:13-16A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!”As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.A sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.

Work is a plan of God’s.

Rest is a provision of God’s.

Laziness isn’t rest, it always has an excuse.

Ecclesiastes 5:13-14I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit.

Ecclesiastes 5:15Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands.

Laziness isn’t rest, it always has an excuse.

a. Believing that I can work my way to security.

Deadly evil:

Ecclesiastes 5:16-17This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind?All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.

a. Believing that I can work my way to security.

b. Believing that I can work my way to satisfaction.

Deadly evil:

Ecclesiastes 5:18This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

a. Believing that I can work my way to security.

b. Believing that I can work my way to satisfaction.

Deadly evil:

There is a healthy way to view work and a sick way to view work.

Hebrews 4:9-119 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us; therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:12-13For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:14-15Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

Hebrews 4:16Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.