Page 72 - Christ in You - The Hope of Glory

The Father’s Work

ahweh has designed this present world in such a way that His sons might know His
Yways, and walk in an understanding manner before Him. One thing that has been
common to all men is having a vocation or occupation. Although there have been some
very affluent and decadent societies where men have received entitlements and given
themselves to a pursuit of leisure activity, such has been an exception and not the norm.
Throughout the Scriptures, and particularly in the Old Testament, we find that almost
without deviation sons were trained in the same vocation as their father. This was necessary
in many instances, for the sons stood to inherit all that their father possessed. If a man was
the owner of flocks and herds, then it was necessary that his sons be trained in animal
husbandry. This pattern is readily seen in the life of Jacob (Israel) and his sons.

Genesis 37:2
Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while
he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's
wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.

Genesis 37:12-14
Then his brothers went to pasture their father's flock in Shechem. And Israel said to
Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will
send you to them." And he said to him, "I will go." Then he said to him, "Go now and
see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock; and bring word
back to me."

We see in these verses that not only were Jacob’s sons trained to perform the work
that Jacob formerly did in his youth, but they were called to give an accounting of their
performance. Jacob’s sons were not faithful in their duties, and Joseph brought back an evil
report of their conduct. This caused Joseph to be hated of his brothers.
As sons of God, we are similarly called to share in our Father’s work. We will also have
to give an account of our performance.

II Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be
recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good
or bad.

Much will be required of those who have been made partakers of the Spirit of Christ
and who have received the word of God.

Luke 12:48
And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom
they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

The message of having to give an account of the stewardship of the things entrusted
to the sons of God is found profusely throughout the Bible. Many Christians are deceived
in thinking that they are not called as ministers of the Gospel of Christ. They have been