Work six days

The example that God gave us.

Work six days, and on the seventh you can rest.

God did not work for five days and then party all weekend.

God did not work for three days and then spend the rest laying around on the sofa watching television. (I believe that the tv is a human invention that God must really DISLIKE because it causes so many of us not to work, and is also a portal that brings the sinful world into our homes)

We were created to work.
Even before the fall, in the garden, we were clearly told to work.
God told us to take care of what He had given to us.

If you don't work you don't eat.  That pretty much sums it up.  If you don't do something to contribute to your own well being and survival, if you don't take care of what you have been given, then you will be in a place of dependence on others.  There are those who truly need to depend on others:  the elderly, the disabled, children.  They need others to work harder so they will be taken care of.

However, we must have the mindset that there is work for everyone.  Work is not just reserved for the able-bodied people between the ages of 22-65.  We all must work!

Now, when I speak of work, don't confuse it with "employment".  Work is everything you do for yourself and others to ensure that all needs are covered.  Work is also being creative: building, painting, sewing, etc.  Hobbies are a form of work!  These are skills so we should put them to good use.

Your workday does not end when you leave your place of employment. (unless you just worked a 12+ hour day of manual labor)  Think about all of the needs of your home and family.  If you work outside the home, you should still come home and do your "chores"  Your home and property still have needs.  When you come home from work and sit in front of the tv your home will fall into disrepair.  Work.  Take pride in what you have been given.

If you are a woman whose work place is the home, then it should be a steady march through your day from sun up until bedtime.  There are plenty of hours in a day to take care of children, keep the home clean and tidy, and prepare healthy food for your family.  Your husband deserves to come home to a clean home and a good meal after working all day.

If both husband and wife work outside the home then home chores should be divided based on time spent outside the home and difficulty of jobs.  I won't even address this same scenario with children in the equation because I believe the only place for a mother to work is in the home with her family.

This post was inspired by my observation of my husbands work ethic.  He worked long hours for many years to support our family and enable me to be home.  Early on he pieced together two jobs to make ends meet, and then a job that had him leaving the house at 6:30 am and returning at 7:30 pm five days a week.  Every Saturday he would spend time working on things that needed to be done around the house in addition to playing with the kids.  Sunday was usually church and rest and play.

Even now, as empty nesters, he works a part time job.  He does not sit around and do nothing the rest of the time.  He works hard to maintain our home and property.  He builds stuff.  He helps others do stuff.  He plays his guitar and learns new music.  He works on wood all year practically in one way or another so that we can be warm in the winter.  He helps me with projects and he spends time with his grandchildren.

He worked steadily from the time he had a newspaper route and he still works now.  If you don't work, what is there? (remember what I said work was defined as)

I feel sorry for the younger generations that waste so much time in front of the television.  Or playing video games.  What the heck is up with that?  So unproductive.

So, to summarize my thoughts,

whether you are young or old, able or not, male or female,

find your work and do it.  The world will be a much better place if you do.