The Law Of Work

I fancy a cigar every now and again, not so much for the flavor...
...I don't think my palate can match the right cigar with the right cognac.
I fancy a cigar every now and again for the company and discussions it fosters.

Depending on the cigar lounge and its proprietor, one may find themselves having conversations
with worldwide leaders in government, business, and all points throughout.
The cigar is secondary, the environment and community being primary.
This is the setting that work provides.

Everywhere you look, someone's work can be seen.

In this article I've included images from my travels and my life to point out some examples of work, briefly mentioning where money exchanges hands, and perhaps mentioning some other instances money further travels through certain hands (money's work).

Consider how money was exchanged at least once when looking at the images.

In many circumstances money continues to change hands although some of the 'work' has ceased.

Work there always is when there is money to be exchanged.

Is everyone able to 'see' and advance along with the ever-present work?

Money there always is where there is work to be done.

Is everyone able to 'see' and advance along with the immeasurable value for things, ideas, and skills?

Notice how work commences despite money's absence or its limit.

You are not paid to eat, but rather must work / pay in order to eat and survive.

The argument between an open market, or a capitalized society, as opposed to a fully state-run society where every aspect of life is determined and planned, has long been put to rest.

Unbridled restrictions undermine growth and innovation.

Unbridled liberalization promotes slavery and lawlessness.

Balance.

The owner of this vehicle (with his artistry upon it) I recognized as a barista.
Being employed by others has its path, at times limited, yet seemingly secure... until you are fired or laid off.
But when embarking on the path of self-employment (like painting unique designs on vehicles),
although income is not guaranteed, the path is possibly limitless.
You are the boss, and it is up to you to forge your path.
Not everyone is determined or able, but those who are and do, they have their stories to tell.
The self-employed have looked beyond the veil of complacency and excuse making. 

What is the litmus test, the barometric measurement that is ubiquitous and undefeated?

What is the perfect economic model for men to follow?

The Word of God holds all the answers.

Mankind has already been defined, along with his shortcomings and his limitations, in the Word of God.

When the Word of God is properly applied to all situations in life, the challenges of life are best navigated... some even preventable.

Where the Word of God has been ignored, or redefined to coddle man's failures, society and social order breaks down.

Work can be a greater variety of occupations outside the typical contribution into a specialized society.

How to make one's work become equitable and valuable in the eyes of others is, often times, a greater and more important task than the work itself.

A merchant ship off in the distance, contributing to world economics and the livelihoods of many people.
The two sailing ships were racing this particular day... leisure for some, an employment opportunity for others.
Between them is a manmade breakwater made of large boulders... work done generation ago but still 'working'.
On the shore, a homeless person occupies a tent... there is work available for those with the drive,
with the desire to be redeemed back into society, and money plentiful for those willing to do something for it.

I recall feeling great stress when, during my junior year of high school, I was asked to choose one of a certain amount of concentrations of study for college.

None of the listed items interested me.

I was thinking I was bound to choose an area that made no difference to me one way or another.

This seemed stifling and smothering to me.

I felt trapped.

I simply didn't know or 'see' the many other options that existed currently, or were available to me if only I could conceive them.

It was an unpopular notion for me to consider being a business man, or to work with my hands (besides being a musician or artist of some kind).

My young mind desired things that seemed exciting and popular, while the idea of how the world was presently didn't seem attractive to me, but mundane.

How naive and shortsighted I was.

Money's motivation goes only so far for some people.

Hunger's motivation is ubiquitous.

This space was vacant for some time, due to demographic depression.
Although initially made to be a theatre space, depending on the mind who takes hold of it,
it can be one of many things... this is an example of an initial work (the building of the space)
being forwarded and new work (renovation) being built on the back of previous work.
With the use of the space, more money is redistributed, tax rolls increase, and life continues.

What I certainly felt was the eventual reality that room and board provided by the hands of my parents / grandparents was not forever promised.

This comfort would come to an end one day, and I would have to provide for myself or establish some mechanism for such support.

The law of work was calling me to its obedience.

I would eventually have to transition from a scholastic career to a work career.

I had no business or mini empire built by my forefathers that would be bequeathed me.

Now reflecting on this, I wonder if I would have even desired to have been granted such responsibilities and wealth.

The ideas of an inherited fortune sounds attractive enough, but the pressures and work to keep it does not.

I grew accustomed to eight hours a day, five days a week, at school.

Besides, it was the 'law' for me to be in school.

There is a law at work regarding work that I was soon to realize, no matter what I desired to have, be, or do in life.

Even the effort to feed one's self takes 'work': you have to bring the food into your mouth.

The radio tower is an example of work that has brought exponential returns.
The work of broadcasting media is not laborious, but not everyone is able to message
intelligible or honorable and valuable messages to others (talent).
It does not take talent to deface buildings with senseless tribal script, but such 'work'
somehow engages awareness of change where the rule of law is still, somehow,
paramount to outright anarchy (what the scribbles encourage).

If you desire to exist in some comfortable fashion (or fill your stomach often enough to stay alive, and have a roof over your head to keep rain and snow away, and have clothes enough so you don't wear and soil the same thing every day) you quickly realize the presence of the law of work.

Even the person who inherits a great fortune and does not have to 'work' in order to receive the check, they still have a task to accomplish.

It may be to not lose or forfeit the inherited fortune.

It may be to ensure all things continue smoothly, growth encouraged, loss mitigated.

Their work may be to redistribute that wealth.

One simple example of this redistribution, although laughable to me, is when much money is exchange for pieces of art that seem childish or rudimentary or something that anyone could have thrown together.

The work of redistribution is elaborated when two similar garments are priced worlds apart although being of the same material and quality.

Purpose.

Man's purpose in life is to perform some kind of work.

The value of such work is relative to perception, yet all mankind has work of some kind to do.

It is when this law is rebuffed, or ignored, or avoided, that people suffer.

If any human being has recognized at least one shortcoming in themselves,
they have recognized that although their trespass may be considered accidental,
even a sin has its purpose... its life lesson, its ability to teach and differentiate right from wrong.
For some, sadly their 'work' is to break the law and eventually be condemned.
They condemn themselves by breaking the law. Although they know full well right from wrong,
they continue to choose what is wrong despite the evidence of grace and its extension to them.

With every trust crunch (recession, depression, economic collapse, scandal, injustice, etc.), notice how the extremities of specialization are tested and broken.

Yet new specializations, new markets, new ways of doing business are discovered and pursued.

Any man or woman who has lived long enough on this earth has realized that dependency on others only goes so far.

The individual can depend on their government for only certain things, and in some instances on almost nothing at all.

Community exists when all members know and fulfill their roles as expected by all included.

Yet, where certain individuals fail there are others willing and able to make up the difference.

Even a king, owning and possessing all their heart may desire, has a role to play; they too have a job to do.

Much the same has the peasant a role to play and a job to do.

Where snow or ice rarely forms (downtown Los Angeles), an ice skating rink is set up.
The rental of skates and an opportunity to sell other things is one person's business, another person's fun.

Charity exists for a reason, and is beckoned from all living things.

The plants and trees show their charity by providing shade, resources as building materials, and sustenance to their living creatures.

Every living creature and thing has their job to do, their work contributing to the collective, their forms of charity, and their recompense for work and charity bestowed.

The true kings and princes who currently reside on earth, yet whose home address is a celestial address unknown to them for the time being, have a greater role and a more decisive work to complete that the pretenders.

The pretender kings and princes, those who measure their success by things material while failing to recognize the spiritual fortunes that abound, are to be addressed with care and grace because of their spiritual handicaps.

This is how their work is properly recompensed and acknowledged as vital, although despicable or intolerable at times, at other times honored and acceptable as noteworthy and necessary.

For the believer, this is your task, your work, your position, your calling, your determination:

In the name of the Lord Yeshua Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”  

We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Yeshua Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.  

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.  

- 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-15

Consider what is earthly wealth and how that is measured... which measuring stick is used?

It is very much possible for someone to be content with what another may consider very little.

A small plot of land, with a certain level of interdependence, and the simple comforts of a few possessions in a home, can be considered great wealth when peace and love also resides therein.

You can only wear one pair of shoes at a time.

If you attempt picking up too much with your hands, some things may spill out be lost.

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:  

   wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,  

      or wealth lost through some misfortune,  

         so that when they have children   

           there is nothing left for them to inherit.  

         Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,  

            and as everyone comes, so they depart.  

         They take nothing from their toil  

      that they can carry in their hands.  

- Ecclesiastes 5: 13-15

A vast empire and all that the earth has to give, although love and peace is non-existent, may be argued as an extreme poverty no man would desire to endure.

The more I have given up, given away, and have removed from my life, the more I have realized I have been gifted, the more I realize I have earned.

When I had many things, I was unable to cherish all of them... and can only enjoy them periodically.

Some 'things' were only enjoyed, or lasted, a short time... while some other 'things' have continued to be enjoyed and appreciated that much more.

When I had changed my mind to pursue wealth was when I learned what true wealth was, and also what earthly wealth was... and how to have and enjoy them both.

Only in places and times and societies where private property was respected
and private individuals were allowed to freely pursue their work has
wealth grown... and where laws are fluid enough to provide opportunity for the
attainment of bread to even the poorest people, has society best reflected the Word of God in action.

I also learned what the role and work the earthly wealthy are tasked with, and I decided I did not want to pursue that work any longer, but instead the work with an eternal recompense.

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.  

- Ecclesiastes 5: 18-20

For the greater lesson on the law of work, and the proper teaching of wealth, read the entire book of Ecclesiastes and impress that teaching upon your heart in the light of Christ and the teaching of the New, the Way, the entrance into the kingdom.