HARDWORK Jesus not to slumber, and not to take for
granted our battle with the enemy for Satan is
Psalms 128:1-6 (pp867/687)
1. Proverbs 10:1-5 (pp894/707)
2. Mark 13:32-37 (pp80/68)
3. Romans 12:9-16 (pp254/214)
I. INTRODUCTION
Two days from now, our country will
celebrate the Labor Day. This celebration
recognizes the hardworking people who
are contributors to alleviating the economy
of our government-all citizens, not only the
officials who runs our government. It is just
sad to see that during this day, some
radicals and leftist take the opportunities
to hold rallies on the street to cry out for
what they demand from the government
officials. Some gain positive results, others
fail to be granted of their demand.
For us who are in the labor group who
are employed, we feel happy when salary
increase demands are granted.
In similar situation, we the Christian
community should also celebrate and give
due recognition to our early workers, like
the apostles especially St. Paul. If not for his
work, we in the far places of Asia would
have not been reached with the Gospel of
Christ.We would not have learned of what
true hope we must have longed for life-that
only Jesus could give.
II. THE MESSAGE
As a community of believers, we are
also considered as laborers. But the field where
we are working is of the Lord’s. In the Lord’s
field we are not only farmers but we are fishers
of men. And each one of us are required hard
work for the enemy is subtle and never stop his
tactics to beat us down. We were warned by
working for an accomplishment of the required
task in school who thinks that in his lazy way his
powerful more than us. But the Lord had
promised that He will protect us from the bow
and arrows of Satan if we will abide with and in
Him. Jesus will cover us from the fierce of Satan
if we will stand firm in our faith in Him.
Being part of the Household of God, we are
assigned with the labor divided among us
depending on the spiritual gift we receive from
God. For whatever gift we receive from God,
there is one common Goal for everyone-that is
to bring the Gospel of Christ Jesus to all parts of
the world. While we are doing our part of the
labor, God will provide us with our needs. He
reminds us just not to be slothful and never
slumber.
Let’s cite the words in the book of
Proverbs 10:3. As Christians, it is not good for
us to do the work in corruption, but living life in
honesty will save us from poverty. God will
never allow any believer to go hungry (v3), so
He will provide us in all ways. (Matt.6:33/John
15:7). Slothfulness will make us poor, but
hardworking will make us rich. These wisdom
from the Holy Scripture is very true in our lives
here in earth, while it is also true in our
spirituality. We need to make our spiritual
maturity grow, and it will not prosper if we will
just sleep or slumber. IN similar situation, our
lives here in earth will not also prosper if we
will be lazy and extravagant. We are advised to
be thrifty in order to keep something for the
future needs. That is why we are granted with
our requests when we ask for he wants us to
live not in poverty. As we are advised to keep
things for future needs, then we are also made
to work for and keep for our life in eternity (v5).
We are made always to be vigilant in our
works. We might be like the students who are
teachers will be pleased so he will be given a
good rating for his work. But when he submits
that to his teacher, it was rejected because it
was not completely accomplished. God wants
us to do our labor completely, doing them
under His power through our complete faith in
Him.
St. Mark reiterated the warning of Jesus for
us to be vigilant always in all we do. While we
are given task to do work being part of God’
Household, we should honestly keep working
and never “sleep” for the enemy might strike
the field with “bad seeds” that will affect badly
our spiritual growth, and will hinder us to work
completely the labor given to us. We are made
to keep working keeping the windows of our
eyes always open. We should not slumber
while accomplishing our tasks being the (1)
light, (2) salt, (3) tenants, and (4) fishers of men
so that we will not be ashamed of Jesus’
appearing on that day that only God knows.
Romans 12:11 encourage us to do our
work with hard work and not in slothfulness.
We are reminded by Paul in Romans 13:11-14,
that we are to accomplish our work as bearers
of the light, for night is coming nearer. We
should strive to live a holy life using the armor
of God (see Ephesians 6:10-18), and do not
allow the lust of our body overcome our spirit.
My brethren, let’s keep working together,
helping one another so we will go together to
reach the goals of heaven. And there, we shall
live with God forever with peace and joy.
AMEN.
Prepared By:
Ma. Susan B. Alota
04/29/2018
 FATHERS
Psalms 119:65-72
1. Deuteronomy 8:1-6 (pp252/ ) economy of the home they are planning to have
2. Proverbs 19:18 (pp906/ ) by accomplishing their educational or
(Proverbs 13:24)
3. Revelation 3:19/ ) they have to work together as couples, soon
I. INTRODUCTION
If there are mothers, there are fathers;
if there is the celebration of the Mothers’ Day
during the third Sunday of May, then when is
the celebration of the Fathers’ Day?
II. THE MESSAGE
Who is designated by God to train &
chasten the children to discipline them? First,
it is the fathers; second, it is the parents. What
is the purpose of chastening the children? Why
do children needs to be disciplined?
Fathers or parents are naturally designed
to care for their offspring. As mothers are
considered the light of a home; fathers are
considered as the pillars. Mothers does the
responsibility in the nurturing the child aside
from housekeeping task, but the father must be
the provider in all way: materials, house rules,
and orderliness in the home.
In the typical Philippine-culture, Fathers
go out of home to seek for food and other
material needs in the home. He sees to it that
the basic needs of the family are met. With the
help of his wife, he sees to it that the home is
at peace and in order. In most cases, the father
does the executive rule in implementing the
disciplinary tasks among the siblings. He does
the major rules of leadership in the home as the
mother assist him to lead the entire family in its
family visions and goals.
During the courting period of matured
couple, they make plans together to build a
home. As they make the plan, they lay their
family vision and goals by securing the
professional plans. They to agree on things that
they get married and perform each owns task.
The father does the pillar-rule and the mother
does the light of the house rule. When anyone
of them fails to perform the rule, the family’s
life become “shaky” until it collapse like a
building with destructed pillars.
What do we mean by this situation? It
simply means that husband and wives are
equally important in building a healthy home.
Providing the family’s needs mostly are done
by the father being the pillar, but doing the
disciplinary tasks is not only for the mothers.
The father sets and declares the house rules,
while the mother executes them in the home.
Nowadays, it is already accepted by our
modern society the exchanging rules of
husband and wife. A study of the Philippine
society came up with three types of family: the
paternal rule, the maternal rule, and the type
where both couples help together in rearing
their children. For me, whatever type of family
is it, the children in the family must be secured
through proper provisions of need: food,
shelter, clothing, and education. As an
institution, the family runs its operation
through the father’s leading as the mother
assist.
Discipline in the home is strongly
needed in order to attain the family’s vision
and goals. In terms of discipline, we should not
lay this thing aside. Many parents, specially the
fathers sometimes disregard this task and let
their wives perform the task. They thought that
it is just enough that they earn for their living.
Children need their fathers by their side,
not only their mothers. As they go through the
process of growing, they don’t only undergo
physical growth. They also experience
emotional growth as they are taught of the
different facets of knowledge. At this point, the
parent have the great rule of forming the
personality of their child. Proper discipline
must come in the lives of the children to assure
them of a good and better life in their near
future. Parents who really love their children
must chasten the child as it is needed
(Prov13:24). Chastening is a natural way of
nurturing the child. As Christians, we have the
right way of chastening our children. To do this
rule, God had assigned the parents to do this,
not the DSWD or any man-made agency. If we
love our children, we will not let them alone to
decide for themselves always. We should guide
them through the right way as we give them
also freedom to live, just like what our Father
in heaven does to us. He wants us to abide by
His rules in order to have a good life not only
here on earth, but especially in eternity. He
wants that His visions and goals for His
Household be achieved victoriously. So He laid
His plans, together with the laws and statutes
that people should observe/follow in order to
realize everything He wants them to be. If we
claim to be His child, let us abide by His rules as
we want our children to abide by our rules.
Each day we live, we should tread on His
leadings by accepting the wisdom that he sent
to us, that we may know what is right and do
them, and we may know what is wrong to avoid
them. Let us abide by His rules/words. Every
day, let us work hard to live a real Christian life
that will make Him happy and pleased in us.
AMEN.
Prepared By: MSBA/06-17-2018