THE DIGNITY OF TOIL

The noblest man on earth is he who puts his hands cheerfully and proudly to honest labor and goes forth to conquer honor and worth. There is a dignity and glory to toil. The greatest names in history are of those who worked hard; no one who posterity delights to honor ever dreamed or idled his time away to gain game.

Labor is beautiful and the world has long since learned that men cannot be truly man without employment. We do not consider man noble because of his dress but because of his honor acquired through labor. It is the spirit back of the performance of the task that gives dignity and honor to the accomplishment. Through labor the very elements are brought under subjection and made to contribute to the good of other men.

The victories of labor are seen everywhere about us in the city or in the field. Labor makes the poor man’s heart rich with content and crown the weary head with honor, dignity and peace. Labor evokes and disciplines obedience, self-control, attention, application, and, perseverance gives a man a deftness and skill in his physical calling.

As in the material, so with things of the soul. Labor and toil are essential. Holy scripture bids us to “work out” our salvation and the master of toil bade His followers to strive not for the things that perish but for those that endure until life everlasting. In the realms of the spiritual the dignity of labor reaches its highest valuation. Through man’s toiling in obedience to the word of God, he can live such life as to receive the highest reward in heaven after this life is over.

THE PURPOSE OF PREACHING

Jesus has given the command to go and preach the gospel. Mark 16:15-16 states, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

When Jesus used the word preach in this passage, he used a word that conveys a unique concept. Preaching is a proclamation of a message. It is a declaring of one’s position. Therefore, it is a very common form of presentation that is heard day after day by someone somewhere peddling their positions, whereas genuine Bible preaching is a very unique thing. Nothing can take the place of real Bible preaching, nor can its power really be measured.

BIBLE PREACHING REFUTES FALSE IDEAS

Over and over again Christ and the apostles challenged the false positions of their day through preaching. Jesus refuted the false teachings of the Jewish teachers of His day. Notice His rebuke of them in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). His denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 is but one example of many incidents of the Lord’s hatred for false doctrine. Though He had supreme love and compassion for the sinner, he hated every false way, for He knew that such would cause souls to be lost. Peter, in his sermon on Pentecost (Acts 2) as well as Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Acts 17), are two illustrations of how Christ and the apostles used the medium of preaching to expose error. We must do the same.

BIBLE PREACHING EXPLAINS THE SCRIPTURES

Bible preaching comes from the Bible. It is a presentation and an explanation of the greatest book in the world, the Bible. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, filled his sermon with quotations from the Old Testament. But, notice that it was not just a Bible quoting session; rather he went on to explain the scriptures which he used. There was no doubt in the minds of his hearers as to how these scriptures should be applied (Acts 2:16, 25). Gospel preaching must be Bible based and centered (Acts 2:17-21), but it must also let the people know what the scripture means and how it applies today. A person can read the Bible at home for him self. He can memorize every verse in the Bible, but if he misses the Bible’s proper explanation and application, then he has gained nothing toward growing in faith (II Peter 3:18). Bible preaching is based on God’s Word and is a correct explanation and application of that Word.

BIBLE PREACHING CONVICTS MEN OF SIN

In Acts 2, Peter let his audience know they were sinners (Acts 2:36). There was no misunderstanding him about the matter. He exhorted them to do something about their spiritual condition (Acts 2:40). Peter stirred their consciences (Acts 2:37). Paul’s sermon to Felix caused Felix to tremble (Acts 24:25). Bible preaching is to convict men of their sins and exhort them to turn to the living God.

We need a revival today of the preaching that we hear. We need a return to first century preaching—the kind of preaching that is filled with the Bible—preaching that causes the hearer to realize his condition and urges him to do something about it. Then we will see, as the Word of God instructs, that it is indeed “quick, and powerful, and sharp er than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).

Author Unknown