Topic: No Work, No Food [Open Heavens for Teens 5 March 2020]

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MEMORISE: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. – 2 Thessalonians 3:10

READ: Proverbs 26:13-16

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15 The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 34-36; Mark 10:32-52

MESSAGE:

Being a teenager does not mean that the rule in our memory verse for today does not apply to you. Whether you live with your parents or not, if you eat in the house that you live in, then you must also work. You cannot wake up anytime and just go to the kitchen and take your food and eat. That is not in line with what God expects from His children. You are to wake up early in the morning to do house chores – sweep the floor, clean the furniture, wash clothes and so on. It is when you have done these that you are qualified to eat. Even when you go to a family member’s place for holidays, they should feel the effect of your presence in a positive way throughout the duration of the stay.

It is unbecoming of a Christian teenager to leave all the house chores to the house help or maid. There is nothing your house help can do that you should not be able to do. The house help is only there to help, that means you must be doing something for them to help you. Laziness and idleness are associated with the devil and that is why he is going to and fro (Job 1:7). Hard work and productivity are associated with God (John 5:17). The ones you choose will determine who you can be associated with.

Action Point:

Make it a point of duty to be very effective in house chores, especially in the morning before you eat.

Hymn 3:

1 When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3 Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

4 But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5 Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.