Chapter 10 
Busy Lives

1.	How does your heavenly Father provide for your long-term needs? 
-	He gives us more than we need for today, so we can set aside for tomorrow
-	He has sent his Son, to remove death’s grip and provide a home in heaven for us

2.	How does he provide for your day-to-day needs?
He provides by giving us the ability to work; parents; job; spouse; needed weather; individuals with certain gifts; and the list could go on.

Making a living in Israel
1.	Describe the life of a nomad in ancient Palestine.
-	They moved from place to place to find water and green grass – sometimes having to travel many miles
-	It was a hot, dry life 
-	They would have lived in tents made of goat hair – but no real place to call home
-	Lived off of their sheep and goats

2.	How did the Israelites’ lifestyle change when they entered their new homeland?
They were no longer nomads but had their own country
They were settled

3.	What difference did they soon discover between farming in Egypt and farming in Palestine?
Egypt – Agricultural way of life was dependent on irrigation.  It was extremely fertile
Palestine – 2 seasons (winter which was the rainy season; and summer which was hot and dry) They were totally dependent on the Lord’s blessings
4.	In our country we can expect rain in any of the 12 months of the year. How does Palestine’s rainfall pattern differ?
75% of rainfall comes in 3 months

5.	How did God use that to train his people?
To depend on him to provide for the necessities of everyday life

6.	By commanding them to observe the sabbatical year, what truth was God teaching his people?
Trust me.  I’ll provide.  I promise.

7.	Next to farming, what was the most common occupation in ancient Israel?
Caring for flocks of animals

8.	What was it about that work that made it difficult?
There were ever present dangers: 1) Wild animals; 2)Desert raiders; 3) Famine (couldn’t always find good pasture land); 4) Heat of the day and the cold of the night

9.	What were other occupations that kept Israelites busy?
Trade; fishing; metal workers; blacksmiths; craftsmen of jewelry and precious metals; potter, wood workers; textile workers

10.	Describe a day in the life of an ancient Israeli homemaker.
Grinding wheat or barley to flour to make bread – fill family jug of water for the day – make the home a godly center for the family

11.	What adjectives would you use to characterize day-to-day life in ancient Israel?
Here are some of the words I came up with: busy; tiring; rewarding; trusting; hard; long; repetitive

Attitudes regarding work
1.	How might we let Satan spoil God’s gift of honest, hard work?
By developing an attitude of entitlement; by being lazy; by begrudging the work God has given us the ability to do; by thinking we can get more money in an easier way (free money)

2.	What negative attitudes toward work have you observed—in yourself and in others?
-	Don’t want to do it
-	That it takes the “fun” out of life
-	Discontent with what you are doing
o	Thinking grass is greener somewhere else
-	A chore

3.	Why are those attitudes dangerous for a child of God? What do they tell God?
They are often times attitude of discontent; dissatisfaction for what the Lord has given us; a roundabout way of “voicing” your displeasure with God; and leads to grumbling, whining, complaining, laziness
It is saying to God, “I don’t want to use the gifts you gave me Lord!”

4.	What has Jesus Christ done to change you and your outlook on life?
Given our work purpose, meaning – by suffering and dying 
Left us an example – he never wasted an opportunity to do the work he needed to do (also, left us an example in serving as carpenter)

5.	What has the Holy Spirit done to bring this about?
Working in our hearts so that we might receive this gift of faith given

6.	Is the fact that we must work a result of the fall into sin?
No

7.	Was it before or after Adam and Eve fell into sin that God commanded them to do the work involved in caring for his creation?
It was before
8.	According to 1 Corinthians 10:31, what is the specific Christian attitude toward work?
Do it all to the glory of God

9.	Evaluate this statement: My goal in life is to be a doctor.
Such a statement can be bad or it can be good
-	It can be fine as long as we understand everything involved in that – we want to do it for God, with the gifts he’s given us and to his glory
-	But if the goal is simply to fulfill my goal, make some money, then we are missing out on the higher goals we have as Christians

10.	What’s the difference between making a good living and having a good life?
a.	Making a good living is focused on paycheck and external
b.	Having a good life is focused on enjoying and serving God in pleasing ways

11.	What is the connection between spiritual well-being and personal happiness?
When the first one happens, then the second will follow

12.	According to Titus 2:9,10, what special incentive do Christians have for doing their very best work?
It makes the teaching of God more attractive to others

13.	Even though you’re a Christian, why is it is easy for you to give less than your best?
Because of my sinful nature, and the selfishness that still is so deeply rooted in it.

14.	Why don’t you have to find the source of your strength in your own abilities (Philippians 4:13)?
Because God promises to give us the strength as we remain connected to him.