"Consider the lilies of the field. They toil not, neither do they spin. Yet I say unto you, even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed as one of these."
Jesus Christ, Sermon on the Mount.
this means take it easy & let god take care of things, right?
So how did the Protestant work ethic come about? when it contradicts what Christ himself said..
2007-01-09 01:52:46 · 27 answers · asked by andylefty 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Protestant work ethic, or sometimes called the Puritan work ethic, is a Calvinist value emphasising the necessity of constant labour in a person's calling as a sign of personal salvation.
2007-01-09 02:04:41 · update #1
\\the Apostle Paul admonished that if one was unwilling to work, he should not eat.//
This is to be taken as metaphor or parable not as a literal translation. the church before the reformation saw certain work as sinful.
2007-01-11 00:17:33 · update #2
No, it doesn't mean not to work. You have taken this out of context. The rest of the passage will tell you not to worry about things. The flowers do not worry about what they are clothed in or what they will eat and neither should we. It never says not to work. This is as important as anything else. There are many passages that tell hard work brings rest and riches.
2007-01-09 01:58:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Solomon turned away from God and did not do as he was supposed to do but finally came back later. Jesus was talking about the perfection of the lilies and how they do not have to worry about toiling or working for what they get, not that we should not work. I don't know where you get your idea of not working but it would sure be boring to do nothing all day every day and just rely on God for even feeding us. Can't lift your hand to your mouth as it is work. God also gave us a brain to use to understand things as well. Also said if we do not work, we should not eat. If you read your bible you would know that.
2007-01-09 10:03:17 · answer #2 · answered by ramall1to 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have misunderstood both. The Bible passage goes on to say not to worry, NOT to take it easy. Being lazy has never been a Biblical standard.
Also, the Protestant work ethic means that you should work hard, as this glorifies God, not as a sign of salvation. Calvin also taught that humans could do nothing to save ourselves, it was entirely down to God's choice.
2007-01-17 09:31:11 · answer #3 · answered by neil 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, what Jesus said was not to be anxious. He didn't say leave it to God. You cannot isolate one scripture like that and have it make a point.
At 2 Thess. 3:10, the Apostle Paul admonished that if one was unwilling to work, he should not eat. What JESUS meant was do your best but don't be overly concerned.
2007-01-09 10:08:41 · answer #4 · answered by Q&A Queen 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who would you believe, the Living Word of God, or a church. Jesus said, you feed me when I was hungered, you gave me drink we I thirsted, you clothed me for I was naked, you visited in sickness and when I was in prison, if you do it for the least, you have done it for me. Do not worry about what you will eat, or drink, or wear, for your heavenly Father knows you have need for all these things, but seek ye first the Kingdom of heaven and all these things will added unyo you.
Jesus is telling you to take only what you need, and that if you have need for something, your brethren shall give it to you.
Read the story about Lazarus and the Rich man and Lazarus being dead for 4 days. Why is the rich man in hell. No read; " when an unclean spirit goes out of a man.
2007-01-14 05:50:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The protestant work ethic as you call it arose for economic reasons, not religious ones. The two are interlinked, but economics won out here, which happened to be good for the world economy.
2007-01-09 10:31:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont know whether i m right or wrong, but let me tell you what i feel. i dont think it means that you should take it easy an dlet god take care of things. i thnik, it means that you should do ur duty and not be bothered abt the results. u do ur duty and get over with it. it is upto god to give u the desired results. A lily does her duty in the scheme of nature. her duty is to blossom and please the eyes of others. lilies never worry abt the fact that they are going to wither the next day. yet it feels happy for having done the duty given to it by god. and that i feel is a life woth imitating
2007-01-09 10:02:23 · answer #7 · answered by lilac4u 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.It does not just mean 'Take it easy', etc.
It means get a sense of perspective. There are some things that ypou cannot do for yourself.
The work ethic is a separate isssue....it is about making a contribution to the society of which you are a part.....which is one of the essentials of 'loving your neighbour'
2007-01-15 07:12:39 · answer #8 · answered by alan h 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We were also told that the man was to support his household. GOD did NOT SAY not to work or to sit down and relax. HE will assist us as we have need. As a Christian, we must pray and ask for HIS help for those things that we are in need of. There is a BIG DIFFERENCE in the two. Read, study, and obey HIS WORD. Have a great day!!
EDs
2007-01-09 10:02:21 · answer #9 · answered by Eds 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting, it has been found difficult and left untried. G. K. Chesterton
Being human and having the characteristics that the Bible strives to make us aware of we ignore everything and try to justify our faith by resorting to materialistic displays and comfort zones.
After all, it is the only thing we fully understand
2007-01-16 05:46:57 · answer #10 · answered by Flintpen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋