What good is faith without works?  Clearly, James establishes that faith without works is dead.  Therefore, faith without
works is useless (James 2:14-26).  This is a point that most Christians of even a young age realize.  How much work needs to
be done to fill up our “enough work meter”?  Well, even when we’ve done everything we still haven’t done enough.  We must
realize that we are to work all of our spiritual lives.  But, these works will never pay our entrance into Heaven without the blood
of Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10).  Furthermore, notice what Jesus taught about how much work it takes to make us profitable
servants: “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come
from the field, Go and sit down to meat?  And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird
thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?  Doth he thank that
servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.  So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all
those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to
do” (Luke 17:7-10).        

      The way some pretentious Christians think about working for the Lord, one would wonder if they think you can spiritually
sleep your way to Heaven.  Certainly, there are times in every day where we must eat and rest.  Jesus said such to His
disciples: “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many
coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.  And they departed into a desert place by ship privately”
(Mark 6:31-32).   Yet, this does not mean we will be rewarded for taking a lifelong lunch break.

      With the price paid for our redemption, why would we want time off?  As saints, we realize our lives no longer belong to
us (II Corinthians 5:15).  When the Apostle Paul was stoned and thought to be dead; he did not take time off.  He rose up and
got back to work (Acts 14:19-21).  It’s always time to work!



      While Paul serves as a good example of one who was willing to get back to work, our Lord Jesus Christ is the author of
the working mindset.  Notice the words of our Savior: “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the
people.  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were
scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the
labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest…  In the
mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not
of.  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?  Jesus saith unto them, My
meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then
cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to
harvest…  And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the
sabbath day.  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” (Matthew 9:35-38, John 4:31-35,
and John 5:16-17).

      Brethren, our time here on this earth is short (Job 14:1, Psalms 78:39, and Psalms 89:47).  The time we have to
accomplish the Lord’s will here on earth is valuable (Ephesians 5:15-17).  We should not waste time in thinking we have
tomorrow to do what we should be doing today (James 4:13-14).  We are expected to be working always (I Corinthians 15:
58).  Our service to God is a daily work (Luke 9:23-25).  We should not get exhausted and want to take it easy (Galatians 6:9
and II Thessalonians 3:13).  When we obey the Gospel we give up our lives and start living for the Lord (John 12:25 and
Colossians 3:1-4).  Our lives are now continually about one thing, our Lord!


      When I managed a Firestone store in Ohio years ago, I would harp on employees who would use the phone and do other
things of personal matters while on “company time”.  I would remind them they were “on the clock”.  Being in Christ, we are
always on His time.  That is not to say that we cannot do things for our lives, as this article established on the first page.  More
importantly the purpose of what we are doing with His time really matters.  For example, we know we are to work and
provide for our families (II Thessalonians 3:10 and I Timothy 5:8).  Yet, do we really need two or three jobs which take us
from the Lord’s work just so that we can have a bigger television or a fancier automobile?  The wife is to be a keeper of the
home (Titus 2:3-5).  Yet, would the home be in good order while her soul goes to the wayside be a pleasing work to God
(Luke 10:38-42)?  While providing for our needs we are doing the Lord’s will to a degree, but we cannot say that is all there is
to our lives.

      Serving our Master is a continual work (John 8:31 and Colossians 1:23).  When we get so busy making our lives, we
forget about the life we’ve given to Christ.  How can we proclaim that we love the Lord with all of our hearts, minds, and souls
when He is last on our “to do list” (Mark 12:30)?  Let’s remember that we are on His time.  Let’s use that time wisely
(Colossians 4:5).  Let’s assure that our motives for all that we do are spiritual rather than carnal (Romans 8:4-8).


      All the work we do here for other masters will perish with this earth (II Peter 3:10).  It is the work that we commit to our
Lord which will have an eternal reward (II Timothy 1:12).  Our Lord is not unrighteous to forget our work and labor of love, so
let’s not be lazy (Hebrews 6:10-12).   It’s not time for a break.  It is time to get busy preparing ourselves and others for the
coming of our Lord and the Judgment.  
Volume VIII    ~    Issue XL   ~   June 29th, 2008
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)?  Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17), repent of their
sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38 and
Romans 6:1-6).  Upon your obedience to these requirements of the Lord He will add you to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41; 47
and I Corinthians 12:12-13; cf. Romans 16:16).  One must then remain faithful (Colossians 1:23 and Revelation 2:10).  There is
more to cover than is here.  Contact me today for a study: brianyeager@wordsoftruth.net
Edited by: Brian A. Yeager
Is It Time For A Break?
By: Brian A. Yeager
It’s Always Time To Work
Remembering You’re Always “On The Clock”
Conclusion