Sunday, March 14, 2021

March 14, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

A short time ago Darlene and I returned from our trip to Maui, Hawaii. We had an enjoyable time there but travel is tiring; with the combination of the daylight savings time change and the time difference between Hawaii and Texas it will be difficult readjusting, so we may have what they call jet-lag for a day or two. We are both scheduled to return to our jobs tomorrow morning. 

This leads me to ask, what do you consider to be your job? Human beings were created for work. We need rest because we are not God; therefore, an occasional vacation from our labors is a good thing and a blessing from the Lord. However, we were created to work and when we are not working, sin is at the doorway ready to pounce. 

While on the island of Maui in the state of Hawaii (I do not know if the other islands are like this), Darlene and I noticed that there are vacation homeless all around the island, especially on the part of the island that has good waves for surfing; sleeping in make shift huts and broken down vehicles on the beach and these vacation homeless are not native Hawaiians. 

Human beings were created to work, without which sin and death are at the door. The Lord God put man into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. (Gn 2:15) However, man decided for himself what was right and did not listen to God; (Gn 3:17) therefore, work became difficult. (Gn 3:18-19) A vacation is good, it is a blessing to have rest from ones labors but a permanent vacation is not a good thing because human beings were created to work. Without work a man wastes away and he does no good for the kingdom of God or for his neighbor. The apostle Paul wrote that the Christian should love the brethren, lead a quiet life and work, so that they will have good behavior toward outsiders and not be in any need. (1 Th 4:9-12)

Michael Peek