The Dignity of Work - Class 6 CRE Revision Notes

• What is work?
  • Why do People Work Today
  • Why People Worked in Traditional African Society
  • Reasons Why God wants Us to Work
  • Division of Work at Home
• Forms of Child Labour
  • Why are Children Engaged in Child Labour?
  • Effects of Child Labour
• Working in the Community
  • Effects of Community Work {2 Thessalonians 3:6-13}
• Dignity of Manual Work {2 Thessalonians 3:7-8, Acts 18:1-4, Genesis 4:2}
• Attitudes towards Work {Luke 18:9-14}
  • What it Means to Work for God.

What is Work?

• Work is the use of physical or mental power in order to do or make something.
• Work is ordained by God.
• God worked for 6 days and rested on the seventh day.
• God put man in charge of all creations.
• God put man in the Garden of Eden and told him to care for it.
• Paul encourages us to work hard. He says those who do not work should not eat. {2 Thessalonians 3:6-12}

Why do People Work Today

• To provide for families
• To earn a living.
• To relies our set goals.
• To acquire property.
• To fulfill the will of God.
• To help those in need
• To realize development in the society.
• ____________________
• ____________________

Why People Worked in Traditional African Society

• To feed their families.
• To become famous.
• To be seen hardworking.
• To set good example to children.
• To be wealthy.
• To earn respect.
• Laziness was discouraged.

Reasons Why God wants Us to Work

• Work is ordained by God.
• To continue with his work of creation.
• To emulate Jesus who also worked hard to save man.
• To make our environment better.
• To improve our living conditions
• To spread news about His Kingdom.
• To serve others through our abilities. {Romans 12:6-8}
• To be self- reliant
• __________________________
• __________________________
• __________________________

Division of Work at Home

• Every member in the family has a role to play.
• Family members share work according to ability, age, type of work and status.
• Shared work becomes lighter and takes less time.
• Sharing work promotes unity, love and joy in the family.
• Sharing work encourages members to avoid laziness
  Colossians 3:23
• We should work with all our hearts as if we are serving God.
  Thessalonians 3:10:12
• Paul encourages us to work hard and avoid laziness.
• Those who do not work should not eat.

Forms of Child Labor { 2 kings 5:2}

1. A child is any person under the age of 18 years.
2. Child-labour- using children to do adults’ work.
3. Child labour includes:-
   • Operating heavy machines
   • Working as house helps.
   • Working at farms and on construction sites.
   • Hawking
   • Carrying heavy loads
   • __________________
   • __________________
   • __________________

Why are Children Engaged in Child Labour?

1. Poverty
2. Death of parents
3. Neglect by guardians and parents
4. Drug abuse
5. _____________________
6. _____________________
7. _____________________

Effects of Child Labour

1. Children do not enjoy life- spend most time working.
2. Children fail to go to school.
3. Affects the health of children.
4. Some are paid very little or no pay at all.
5. Children are exposed to harassment and sexual abuse.
6. Children engage in irresponsible behaviors
7. Children develop fear because of mistreatment.
8. Children are exposed to dangers that can even cause death.

Working in the Community

Community work:-

1. Building roads
2. Clearing rubbish
3. Building dams.
4. Digging bore holes.

Effects of Community Work {2 Thessalonians 3:6-13}

• Enhances unity in the community
• Reduces poverty
• Improves quality of life in the community.
• Encourages people to work hard.
  Nb: apostle Paul worked as a tent maker to earn his living.

Working for the Nation {Romans 13:6-8}

Different jobs in Kenya

• Doctors
• Technician
• Policeman
• Farming
• Nurses
• Lawyers
  1. Everyone should work well in order to help our nation.
  2. If people are lazy, poverty will strike our nation hence thieves increase.
  3. Bible encourages us to work hard to support the government by paying taxes.
  4. Paying taxes enables the nation to develop.

Dignity of Manual Work {2 Thessalonians 3:7-8, Acts 18:1-4, Genesis 4:2}

• Manual work- the work done using our hands.
• Examples: livestock keeping, digging, clearing, _________________ , ______________ , _______________ , ______________
• Manual work makes our lives better and helps us to have enough basic needs.
• Manual work keeps our environment safe.
• Examples of manual work in the bible:-
  
  1. Apostle Paul was a tent maker
  2. Cain was a farmer.
  3. Abel was a herdsman
  4. Joseph was a carpenter
  5. ____________________
  6. ____________________
  7. ____________________
  8. ____________________

Attitudes towards Work {Luke 18:9-14}

1. Should appreciate it because it helps us earn a living.
2. View work with dignity since through it we are able to provide basic needs.
3. Work is a service to God and the community.
4. All work is meant to help man live a comfortable life.
5. ______________________
6. ______________________
7. ______________________

What it Means to Work for God.

1. We use our talents and abilities to serve God through others.
2. All work is a way of partnering with God e.g. doctors, teaching e.t.c.
3. Preachers, pastors, priests and evangelists serve God directly.
4. Voluntary work requires no pay but is a way of serving God through the needy.
5. We are encouraged to receive servants of God; Jesus sent his disciples and commanded them not to carry money, food, clothes. Jesus expected people to provide for them.

Questions

1. What is work?
2. Why did God put man in the Garden of Eden?
3. State 3 reasons why people worked in traditional communities
4. Apostle Paul worked as a?
5. Give two example of child labour
6. Why is it important for Christians to work together?
7. The slave girl who foretold the future and was healed by Paul was from?
8. Whoever does not work should not __________________
9. Cain worked as a ?
10. Elisha worked as a _______________ before God called him to be a prophet