Prov. 14:4

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. The Principle: The blessing of increase comes only by the burden of labour and labourers.
   2. The Truths
      1. The Lord has designed it so that blessing follows burden. Without a burden born, there will be no blessing.
      2. The instant gratification of our society, coupled with the deception of “something for nothing,” can taint our way of thinking, so that we might look for God’s blessing prior to applying ourselves to the duty of labour.
      3. There are many times that the burden is dirty, thankless, and difficult. But the alternative is to miss out on the blessing.
2. PART 1: BURDENS WITH BLESSINGS
   1. The Labouring Of A Farmer – Ps. 126:5-6
      1. He weeps over his seed, then rejoices over his crop – vs. 5
      2. He has to bear precious seed while weeping (burden), then rejoices when the harvest arrives (blessing) – vs. 6
      3. Proverbs 11:24-26
         1. Planting – vs. 24
         2. Watering – vs. 25
         3. Reaping – vs. 26
   2. The Labouring Of A Fisherman – Luke 5:1-11
      1. Let down the nets (burden) – vs. 4-5
      2. A multitude of fishes (blessing) – vs. 6-7
   3. The Labouring Of An Apostle – 2 Tim. 4:5-8
      1. A command to work (burden – vs. 5), as he has given example (vs. 7) – 2 Cor. 11:28
      2. The outcome of perseverance (which will cause a person to love his appearing) is a crown (blessing) – vs. 7-8
   4. The Labouring Of Our Lord – John 17:4-5
      1. Jesus had a work to perform (burden) – vs. 4
      2. Because of its completion, He desired glorification (blessing) – vs. 5
         * NOTICE: He has given a call to bear a burden – Mat. 11:28-30
3. PART 2: THE SHAME OF SLOTHFULNESS
   1. A Lesson From An Ant – Prov. 6:6-11
      1. The ant reaps a blessing by bearing a burden – vs. 6-8
         * The ant is Self-disciplined. It doesn’t need a guide, overseer, or ruler to force it into action.
      2. But the sluggard ends up in poverty because he failed to labour.
         1. The sluggard does not have the wisdom of an ant.
         2. WARNING: a man who is slothful will eventually become a sluggard! – Prov. 19:15
   2. A Broke Beggar – Prov. 20:4
      1. The failure to work (will not burden himself in uncomfortable situations)
      2. The results are begging but gaining nothing.
   3. Truths Concerning Slothfulness And Labour
      1. Laziness (slothfulness) will never amount to prosperity or blessing
      2. Regarding an ox – With an ox, there comes a great amount of labour (upkeep). But without the ox, the productivity of one man is greatly decreased.
      3. A decisions must be made between carrying the burden in order to gain the blessing or avoiding the burden and missing out on the blessing.
      4. The point is, if we want the blessing of increase we must work! There truly is blessing behind the burden.
4. PART 3: THE PURPOSE OF THE PRINCIPLE

1. There Is A Great Commission – Mat. 28:19-20
   1. “Go” is the burden
   2. Souls are the blessing
2. The Night Is Coming – John 9:4
   **** In response, Jesus said, “I must work!”
3. Our Questions:
   1. How can we win more souls?
   2. How can we start more churches?
   3. How do we send and support more missionaries?
4. The Answer:

1. “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.”
2. WORK WITHOUT WEARINESS

1. Gal. 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
2. 1 Cor. 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.