Please Don’t Work Because You Can’t Work

Romans 4:4-5
(4) Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. (5) However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

Apostle Paul explains our faith relationship with God. Apostle Paul explained this to the church in Rome that he was yet to visit. The church had both Jews and Gentiles. Paul’s desire was that they appreciate the salvation that Jesus brought.

He begins his book in the first chapter by telling us that Gentiles and all pagans are so wicked and living contrary to God’s will. In the second chapter, he tells us that even Jews are no better. Even though Jews know God’s law and God’s will, they live in defiance of God. In chapter three of this book, he concludes that all human beings have sinned and failed to attain God’s expectations.

If everyone is a failure is there hope? Will we all get lost? Are we in a hopeless situation? Has no one successfully related with God? These questions lead Paul to talk about how Abraham related to God. This is the focus of chapter four.

In chapter four, Paul introduces and emphasizes faith as seen in Abraham. The point is that none of us can qualify for salvation. This is because salvation requires righteousness. How do we attain righteousness?

Righteousness cannot come by what we do. Righteousness is a gift from God just like salvation. Righteousness is a gift. Our text today tells us that a worker gets a salary and not a gift. Salvation and righteousness is not a salary it is a gift.

Even before Abraham got circumcised, God counted him righteous. This confirms that it is a gift. He wasn’t righteous because of circumcision. He was righteous even before circumcision, Romans 4:10.

Abraham couldn’t work to be righteous because it is beyond human abilities. Without God helping us, we can’t even do the simplest things that God expects. Without God, it is a waste of time. Do not work for salvation simply because you can’t!

You can’t work hard enough to please God. God has to enable you to please Him. Without God, you can’t or it is of no effect. Without God, you can give tithes and offerings but it elicits no sense of satisfaction. You can’t work for salvation!

Please do not work for what you can’t work for. Take it by faith, in Jesus’s name, Amen!

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